A Rose is a Rose…but Who is Romeo?
Things are not always what they seem—and names do not define identity. Festival Playhouse of Kalamazoo College opens its 51st season with a classic, Romeo and Juliet and with more historical accuracy than some would expect.
Originally, Shakespeare’s plays were performed exclusively by male actors playing both male and female roles. “Shakespeare’s male actors were not trying to lampoon women or comment on them. Rather, those actors were trying to behave truthfully in imaginary circumstances--they just happen to be playing women,” explains Todd Espeland, Guest Director.
Today, there are almost always more female actresses than male actors, so Espeland has decided to reverse the genders of the actors.Juliet is being played by a young man – as would have been the case in Elizabethan times – but Romeo will be played by a young woman. Does that mean that the play will become a farce?The answer is, definitely not.
“One of my jobs as a director in educational theatre is to provide the best experiences possible to grow and educate my students as well as our audiences,” says Espeland. “What we hope to do is look at the various ways power is a function of gender.”
“Now that I'm suddenly in many extremely powerless positions as Juliet,I've had to change my physicality,” says Thaddeus Buttrey ’17.“This is an extremely challenging role that puts me far out of my comfort zone, but it will make me a better performer, a better thinker.”
In the play, unclear thinking and rash decisionsresult in a variety of clashes, including sword fights. “I have learned a lot about how gender roles can sometimes influence action and the language that we use,” says Lindsay Worthington’17. “This has made me reflect on its role in my life outside the theatre.”
Because of its notoriety, the play challenges designers as well.“As a student scenic and lighting designer, it has been fun to work on one of the most well-known plays in the English language and still make it original,” says Katelyn Anderson’15. Others on the design team includeElaine Kauffman (costumes) and ArikMendelevitz ’15 (sound). Fight choreography is by Jon Reeves.
The show opensin the Nelda K. Balch Playhouse on Thursday, November 6 at 7:30pm, runs Friday and Saturday, November 7-8 at 8pm, and the final performance is Sunday, November 9 at 2pm. For ticket reservations, please call 269.337.7333. Tickets are $5 for students, $10 for seniors and $15 for other adults. Tickets may also be purchased at the door one-hour prior to performance. For more information about the 51st season at Festival Playhouse, call 269.337.7333 or visit
Photo Caption: (from left to right) Jenna Wood ’16 (Tybalt),Madison Donoho ’17 and Emma Franzel’17 (Benvolio) in a scene from Romeo and Juliet. Costumes by Elaine Kauffman.Photo by Lanford J. Potts.