An invitation to see Romeo & Juliet – even if for the hundredth time – can never be refused. In fact, the version staged by Italian director and actor Fernando J. Scarpa at the Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles on March 27 sold out incredibly fast.
What does make the world’s most famous love story so special? According to Fernando, the secret lies in its authentic Italian character: while Romeo would remain himself with a different name, his story wouldn’t be the same if set in a different country. Perhaps it couldn’t even exist without the irrational, impulsive, sometimes tragicomic element inspired by the Italian culture.
The passionate nature of the two young protagonists is widely recognized – and mostly appreciated abroad – as a distinguishing feature of the Italian people. Somehow it also guarantees the credibility of the plot, for example when the letter informing Romeo that Juliet’s death is a fake gets lost; when she wakes up no more than twenty seconds after her lover’s death; or when Friar Lorenzo resorts to deceitful home remedies to help them. Such events may look senseless and even unnatural, yet they are accepted as plausible due to the fact that they occur in Italy.
The director has worked hard to highlight this particular aspect to both the American cast – Rob August, Sara Gonzalez, Fabio Antonio, Jacinta Marasco, Franco Lentini, Mawuli Kulego – and the public. “I wanted everybody to discover – or remember – what it means to fall in love in Italy. It is something different, and it is written in Shakespeare’s words”, says Fernando J. Scarpa.
The original script was untouched, and the actors scrupulously spoke the Elizabethan English of the 16th century. Neither costumes nor set design were used, but only multi-color lights and a few props to recreate the atmosphere of the streets and palaces of Verona in the IIC theater, patio, and inevitable balcony. Romeo and Juliet were interpreted by the young and beautiful Rob August and Sara Gonzalez, who looked at the same time strong and sweet, perfectly fit for their roles.
Rob attended the Performing & Fine Arts Academy in Sacramento, before moving to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career. He also studied Italian language and culture for a couple of semesters in college, and dreams of visiting Italy soon. “I wanted to play Romeo my whole life. We are actually very different: I think over before making a decision, while he is guided by instinct and acts quickly without pondering the consequences. This is typical of Shakespeare’s Italian characters, and Fernando being Italian really helped me understand it”, he says.
According to the talented actor, honesty and humanity are the most innovative features of this version of the celebrated play, as the performance was designed to allow the public to partake in the story and be close to the action – plus, controversial love stories are a timeless topic. Sure enough, all the attendees really enjoyed it. “I’m delighted by the performances of all cast and the response of the audience. I heard laughter and saw smiles, at the end I saw tears. Isn’t love so?”, commented the Italian director.
Realized in collaboration with Flying Penguins Entertainment and Performing Arts Live, Romeo & Juliet is the third chapter of a fruitful relationship between the IIC and Fernando J. Scarpa, following Pirandello’s Henry IV and Goethe’s Italian Journey staged in the past years, and it will hopefully be repeated soon.
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