Watching an amazing Romeo and Juliet on YouTube in Tucson

The Independent Shakespeare Company‘s free summer performances in Griffith Park are among the top 5 things I loved about living in Los Angeles. I didn’t fully really realize that until Sunday evening when I watched their astonishing Romeo and Juliet on YouTube in my Tucson home.

Socially distanced lovers?

I knew it was unlikely to be a version taped in Griffith Park. I expected to see a socially distanced reading, perhaps even on stage somewhere. What I didn’t expect was the combination of animation, taped and live action incorporating so much of the behavior that typifies the Covid 19 era and America in 2020. The socially distanced young lovers are still eternal young lovers even when Romeo and Juliet are texting Shakespeare’s words to one another. And who could object to the grand Capulet Ball being held on Zoom? Not me!

This Romeo and Juliet will be running online from now through to September 27, 2020. Like the Griffith Park summer performances it is free. In October it will be available on demand.

Happily I had sense enough to start taking photos at the opening title. So here is a photo preview of this do-not-miss Romeo and Juliet as seen on YouTube in midtown Tucson.

The prologue was animated with a voice-over. It was charming and whimsical and, in an unintended selfie, my reflection is faint in this image.

Of course there are “click-bait” headlines that carry the action forward after the Capulet and Montague gangs fight in public streets in Verona. And Prince Escalus who rules the city is royally ticked off. On the left, Mr. and Mrs. Capulet. On the right, Mrs. Montague.

First glimpse of Romeo, listening to Spotify? At this point Rosaline is the girl he’s after.

Romeo and is BFF Mercutio plotting to go to the Capulet’s Ball. No invitation? No problem.

Juliet with her Mother and Nurse talking about marriage and meeting the Count Paris at the Capulet Grand Ball. All of Juliet’s scenes apparently were recorded. I know this because the name of the actress who plays Juliet, Bukola Ogunmola, suddenly was listed with those of us watching on YouTube.

At the Capulet Zoom ball where the almost the whole cast of characters meet and socially distance dance from block to block. Including a meeting between Juliet and Romeo. Love at first sight! There are only a couple of scenes in the entire performance where two actors are together in the same space. And those two actors play Romeo and Juliet.

Xavi the Verona DJ, who appears intermittently, is obviously a live performer. On his desk is a Ruth Bader Ginsburg candle. RBG had died less than 48 hours before the broadcast.

Texting dialogue. What can I say? It works.

Friar Lawrence, who smokes, drinks, likes David Bowie, also had an RBG candle on his desk.

Romeo banished…to a corner of Griffith Park, maybe? He’s under an oak tree somewhere in California from where he rushes back to Verona. SPOILER ALERT: The next photo is the spoiler.

Spoiler: They die.

To see this mixed media performance of Romeo and Juliet on YouTube (or Facebook, or Vimeo) between now and Sept. 27, 2020, go to Independent Shakespeare Co.’s website.