DOING SHAKESPEARE THE WALTHER WAY? BRING ON THE SWORDPLAY
Two households, both alike in dignity, air their dirty laundry at Walther Lutheran High School. Walther's drama club brings the classic tragic romance, “Romeo and Juliet,” to the stage in a production complete with angry cousin, hapless friar, bawdy best friend, frustrated prince and a pair of star-crossed lovers. The performance runs on Friday and Saturday, November 2 and 3 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, November 4 at 3 p.m., at the Melrose Park college preparatory school, located at 9th and Chicago Avenues.
“Our interpretation of Romeo and Juliet will highlight the timelessness of the story,” explains director Ms. Sue Costello, “and there'll be some pretty cool swordfights.” The production will pair contemporary elements with traditional staging and Italian sword play. Costello is a fencer who is trained in stage combat, and freshman Dane Soderquist of Chicago says, “That'll be the fun part -- the sword fighting.” Soderquist plays Romeo, the show's male lead. Senior Cassie Slechta of Berwyn carries the role of Mercutio, Romeo's best buddy. Hamming it up she declares, “Let Dane be Romeo and leave the fighting to me!” She's very excited about the performance, declaring, “I have the heaviest sword because I'm strong!” Quips aside, Slechta is looking forward to working with her character's personality. “He's witty and clever,” she shares, “plus it'll be interesting playing a boy.” She's not alone in the theatrical gender switch. Many of the male parts in this production are portrayed by female students in what could be a reverse nod to the Shakespearean practice of having all roles, include the female ones, played by men.
While Cassie has appeared in a number of Walther shows including “Carousel,” “Guys & Dolls” and Readers' Theatre, Dane marks this as his first real theatre role. “I did play a nerdy little kid in Christmas play when I was 11,” he concedes. Sophomore Becca Duff likes acting and made her Walther debut in last spring's “Carousel,” but she's no novice. Her repertoire includes appearances in “Grease,” “Annie Jr.,” “You're a Good Man Charlie Brown” and the “Wizard of Oz” at Schaumburg on Stage and Peacock Middle School. Duff confesses that she's never read or seen “Romeo and Juliet,” “but it sounds like a good story and I really like acting.” “It will be a challenge to do all the memorization,” comments Soderquist. And Slechta's view on taking on one of the most popular and beloved stories in western culture? “It'll be a lot of fun!”
Admission to the play is $8 per adult and $5 for children, senior citizens and high school students with i.d. Limited concessions will be available during intermission and the staff of Walther's literary magazine, aura, will be holding a bake sale full of goodies to take home or enjoy on site.
For more information about Walther Lutheran High School or details on the fall production of “Romeo and Juliet,” call 708.344.0404 or visit Walther.com.
