This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

Acting Out: 'Romeo & Juliet’ at Branford High School

A bunch of high school kids are hanging out in the auditorium one day when, inspired by Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," they decide to perform a makeshift version of play to entertain each other. Before they're done, however, their light-hearted intentions will be darkened—and end in death – as they engage in charged topics ranging from their own parents' intolerance to the devasting consequences of the inaction of authorities in charge.

Sound like any fears a certain generation may be dealing with right now? That's the reason for the unique treatment of this classic play, said veteran Branford High School (BHS) Performing Arts fall play director Maria Ogren.

For over 40 years, Ogren, now a retired BHS AP English teacher, has directed students in her unique interpretations of classic and modern plays. In doing so, she's helped BHS students not only experience the performing arts, but to draw parallels which try to shed light on the current state of their world.

In this case, "...they are reading Romeo and Juliet, and decide to perform it, taking parts somewhat randomly, and entertaining each other," Ogren said. "We shift from a light approach to a serious one as conflicts erupt and kids begin to be sacrificed to the hatred of their parents and the lack of guidance of the governmental and religious 'authorities' in 'Verona.' 　Tragedy results, as it must, when hatred and intolerance hold sway. 　'All are punished,' but it's the kids who die."

BHS Performing Arts present "Romeo & Juliet" Thurs. Dec. 5, Friday Dec. 6 and Sat. Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Cathyann Roding Auditorium at BHS, 185 East Main St. Tickets at the door are $8 for adults, $5 for students.

Done in two acts, the play brings a cast of 20 students to the stage. The role of Juliet is shared by Abbygail Shaw and  Alexis Brown; Romeo is played by Adit Rajpurohit. Romeo's close friend, Mercutio, is played by Ian MacDougall. Mercutio is also a close friend of Romeo's cousin, Benvolio (Hope Steen) and is the cousin of Prince Escalus (Levi Burger) and Count Paris (Charles Doyle). Other characters in this famed family feud of the Montagues vs. Capulets include Lord and Lady Capulet (Kyle Bissell and Adriana Tourangeau), Lord and Lady Montague (Jeremy LaCroix and Elise Eggert), Tybalt (Juliet's short-tempered cousin, played by Matt Cabahug), the scheming Friar Laurence (Harrison Canaveral), Juliet's ever-attendant nurse (Rita Micklus) and Romeo's dedicated servant Balthasar (Louis Brodsky).

Assistant Director John Matthiessen, a BHS English teacher, is once again working alongside Ogren to pull together the performances.  The minimalist set of the play – this is a group of students gathering spontaneously, after all – delivers shades of the classic play with a few set pieces, such as one recalling that famous balcony. Light costumery, in the form of some Renaissance period masks, help tie the piece back to its roots in Verona, Italy.

The spare stage setting, and actors appearing in clothes they'd wear to school, help to underscore the parallels the players will draw to make this performance a modern-day cautionary tale.