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ENTERTAINMENT
Huntington Outdoor Theatre puts new spin on 'Romeo and Juliet'
Huntington Outdoor Theatre presents a fresh take on "Romeo and Juliet" Friday through Sunday, as well as July 18-20.
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HUNTINGTON -- We've found the source of all that sticky air out there in the Tri-State, it's love -- hot, steamy, forbidden summer love.
Opening up its 15th season in the amphitheater of Ritter Park, Huntington Outdoor Theatre pops open the Shakespearean soap opera of love, murder and family drama as its presents the Bard's classic family feud, "Romeo and Juliet," with the cast belting out a proverbial boombox of mostly '80s pop songs by everyone from Billy Joel to Pat Benatar.
Fueled by an orchestra complete with the '80s combo of synthesizers and flying V electric guitars, this new take on Shakespeare in the park runs Friday through Sunday, as well as July 18-20.
The pre-shows begin at 7 p.m. with the children's pre-show of "Orphans of Broadway."
Interestingly, the creation of this HOT twist on Shakespeare was born out of love, or at least a wife listening to her husband whose heart was set on Shakespeare in the park with a modern twist.
HOT President Helen Freeman, stage director for the musical, said the idea for the show came from a January brainstorming session with long-time HOT leaders choreographer Patty Freeman, musical director Mark Smith and set designer Steve Freeman (Helen's husband).
Originally, HOT was going to produce "Annie," but when a couple other regional theaters secured the rights, the suddenly play-orphaned group started thinking a bit beyond its usual rock solid but predictable Rodgers and Hammerstein-esque summer fare.
Steve suggested shaking up some Shakespeare, an idea that's popped up several times in recent history from the movie "Shakespeare in Love" to "High School Musical," the modern-rock musical movie and show loosely based on Romeo and Juliet.
"I kept saying 'no,' and they all said, 'We love that,' " said Helen, who equates the show to the movie "Moulin Rouge," which featured period dress and modern love songs. "I was afraid it wouldn't go. You know Huntington is a hard-core place, a sports town, and it's hard to change it, but that's OK, everybody's real excited about this."
That everybody includes first and foremost, the youth-infused cast led by recent Huntington High School graduates Philip Cron, who plays Romeo, and HOT veteran Brittany Hazeldine, who plays Juliet.
Almost breathless after pouring every ounce of energy out for Bonnie Tyler's No.1 hit from 1983 "Total Eclipse of the Heart," Hazeldine said the show is daring, edgy and fun.
"At first, I think we were all scared what other people would think about it," said Hazeldine, who starred as the feisty Ado Annie in last year's HOT production of "Oklahoma" and who had a lead role in First Stage Theatre Company's winter show, "Children of Eden." "I hope everyone thinks it's fun. I know I'm having a lot of fun, and I think this story can really relate to modern day."
Helen Freeman, who teaches speech and theater at Huntington High School, said Cron is a real natural who has blossomed on stage this year.
A Missouri native who had not acted before coming to Huntington High, he played the lead role this year in "All Shook Up" and was the state's improvisation champ in speech, Freeman said.
"He's really been amazing all year," Freeman said, "and we felt a real natural for the part."
For those who slept through high school English, "Romeo and Juliet" is the story of a family feud in Verona, Italy, between noble houses, the Montagues and the Capulets (think Hatfields and McCoys sans Big Sandy River and hog fight).
Romeo (a Montague) falls for Juliet, Capulet's daughter, when they meet at a Masquerade Ball. The young lovers make plans to marry with the aid of Friar Laurence, but sabers rattle and blood flows when Tybalt (Juliet's cousin) discovers the forbidden love, splaying open the plans and spiraling the lovers down into the vortex of the family feud.
All of the stage action takes place on a two-floor set designed by Steve Freeman with a solid second-story balcony that's used as a focal point with the bedroom and some love on the ladder.
Helen Freeman, who started HOT in 1994 with vice president and managing director Patti Shaver, said amazingly the set transforms into a 1936 cruise liner for "Anything Goes," which runs July 25-27 and Aug. 1-3.
"Steve is the one that came up with it," Helen said. "A lot of people would never design in the park. When you see the set, you're going to flip. He made it so this can change right into 'Anything Goes.' He's pretty amazing. He makes me crazy sometimes, but he's amazing."
Although there are no Moonwalks in the restrictive Elizabethan attire, there is a dance mix spiced with moves from Broadway and Motown.
It's blended together by long-time HOT choreographer Patty Freeman and some serious stage combat choreographed by Jack Cirillo of the Marshall University Department of Theatre.
Patty Freeman said the movement carries further the spirit and passion of the play and the music that features the masquerade dance to Dan Fogelberg's "Longer Than," and Romeo's solo, painful plea during the soul classic "Ain't No Sunshine" (When She's Gone)," written by West Virginia native Bill Withers.
"I think they're learning to appreciate what it's all about," Patty Freeman said. "It's really been a special way to educate the kids to another avenue of theater and music."
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