ROMEO AND JULIET CHAINSAW MASSACRE by Matt Bernard and William Shakespeare. Randolph Theatre. July 3 at 7 pm, July 5 at 3:15 pm, July 7 at 9:15 pm, July 8 at 2:15 pm, July 9 at 11:30 pm, July 10 at 5:15 pm. Buy tickets. Rating: NNNN
Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers and their warring families have to deal with a masked, chainsaw-wielding killer in this clever mashup of styles, periods and genres.
Writer/director Matt Bernard’s script closely follows the outline of the Bard’s tragedy, with lots of brilliant additions. Why does the Nurse yell for Juliet during the famous balcony scene? She’s being pursued by a killer, of course.
Bernard makes great use of a certain Radio Verona to dispense information about missing or discovered bodies, as well as the release of an inmate from the “Asylum for the Dispositioned Antics” – one of many Shakespearean references.
The actors are up for every poetic turn, pun and well-choreographed pursuit, which Bernard directs with energy and inventiveness. And Gwyneth Barton’s period costumes contain lots of surprises when its wearers are butchered.
The middle section meanders a bit, but the gory climax more than makes up for it. Methinks this show will sell out buy thy tickets now or prithee pray for a remount.
