PTC tells tender tragedy of 'Romeo and Juliet'

Once again, theater's most famous star-crossed lovers will take the stage as Pioneer Theatre Company opens William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" — just in time for Valentine's day.

Written somewhere between 1591 and 1595, odds are good you've read it, seen it, or at least seen other works based on the Bard's immortal tale of young, passionate and impetuous love — and with good reason.

"The audience, like today, loved a good love story, sex, violence, comedy, and they liked to be moved, and this play does all of those things," said director Paul Barnes. "Shakespeare was not only the greatest poet in the English-speaking language, he was a great businessman. He gave the audience what they wanted."

PTC will do the same. With the many adaptations of the Bard's great work — from TV shows to movies — the PTC production is how it was meant to be seen, "We're setting it in the traditional Italian Renaissance," Barnes said. "It's beautiful, it's sexy, it's dangerous and totally appropriate to the play Shakespeare gave us.

"People are fond of making it look more hip and more relevant," Barnes said. "But you get in trouble with the play once you get past the invention of the telephone. There's no reason Juliet couldn't have just texted Romeo."

Barnes, who has directed the play numerous times, likens it "to putting together a large-scale musical. With the size of the cast, you do have a bit of dancing, sword fights, large crowd scenes and small intimate scenes. It's quite an undertaking."

The 24-member cast, with extensive Shakespearean and Broadway credits, will be led by Amelia McClain (Juliet) and Matt Jared (Romeo).

"As a cast, we've talked about experience with love, young love, teenage love — that single-minded intensity that drives Romeo and Juliet and, hopefully, we've all felt that at least once," Barnes said, "and we draw upon our experiences and use them when they're helpful."

"But we start with the words. If you connect with the words, and not get in their way, they'll do the work for you."

"It's so beautiful, it's the most romantic play ever written," said Elizabeth Williamson, PTC's literary manager, "Shakespeare was definitely a romantic guy, and 'Romeo and Juliet' is one of the most passionate love stories imaginable."