Sage Theatre's R&J Reimagines Shakespeare's Classic with Modern Relevance in Calgary
More than 430 years after its creation, William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet continues to captivate audiences as one of literature's most enduring tales of young love. This timeless story has inspired countless adaptations across opera, ballet, film, and theatre, each bringing fresh perspectives to the classic narrative. Now, Calgary audiences will experience a groundbreaking interpretation as Sage Theatre, in collaboration with The Shakespeare Company and Calgary's Young People's Theatre, presents the local premiere of Joe Calarco's innovative play R&J.
A Bold Reinterpretation with Contemporary Significance
First presented in 1997, Calarco's adaptation features four male actors performing Shakespeare's iconic tragedy within the framework of a repressive 1950s Catholic boarding school. The production follows four heterosexual students who discover a banned copy of Romeo and Juliet and decide to read and stage the play themselves. As they immerse themselves in Shakespeare's text, they become increasingly intrigued by the queer dynamics of portraying male lovers, leading to profound personal discoveries.
Brett Dahl, who plays the student assuming the roles of Juliet and Benvolio, emphasizes the production's contemporary relevance. "The play deals with the subject of book banning, which is now an issue in Alberta," Dahl explains. "It also addresses freedom of expression and the exploration of a person's authentic self. Initially, the students find much of the text and situations humorous or even silly, but they're also excited because they know what they're doing is forbidden."
Shakespeare's Text in a Modern Context
Remarkably, approximately 95 percent of the dialogue in R&J comes directly from Shakespeare's original text. The students don't communicate before opening the book and transforming into characters, with their teachers appearing only through voice-overs at the play's opening. This device effectively establishes the toxic masculinity permeating the school environment.
"Eventually, the gravity of Shakespeare's text becomes clear to them, and their exercise takes on a new reality," Dahl notes. "The play is scarily relevant, especially with things that are happening in Alberta today."
A Journey of Self-Discovery and Sexual Awakening
For the characters, delving into Romeo and Juliet becomes both a journey of self-awareness and a sexual awakening. "They begin to understand their authentic selves," Dahl observes. "Calarco explores Shakespeare's themes in unique ways. While there aren't traditional warring households, divisions emerge between the boys as the queer subtext becomes more apparent, and characters start expressing their repressed feelings."
The restrictive school environment significantly influences how the students approach Shakespeare's work. "The world imposed on them at the school is rigid, strict, and religious," Dahl adds, "and that definitely affects how they interpret Shakespeare's text."
Production Details and Creative Team
Under the direction of Javier Vilalta, Brett Dahl is joined by fellow actors Jamie Cesar, Joel David Taylor, and Bernardo Pacheco, with Ben Gaudet understudying all four roles. This Calgary premiere represents a significant theatrical event, bringing Calarco's acclaimed adaptation—which enjoyed over a year off-Broadway and became one of the most produced plays of the early 2000s—to local audiences.
R&J will run at the West Village Theatre from February 20th through February 28th, offering theatregoers a unique opportunity to experience Shakespeare's classic through a contemporary lens that resonates with current social issues and personal exploration themes.
