As You Like It ... or Not

Last night I was a guest of my friend Tim at Shakespeare in the Park’s production of “Romeo and Juliet” at the newly renovated Delacorte Theater. Directed by Saheem Ali, the production is performed in English, but Romeo and Juliet -- played by Ra’Mya Latiah Aikens and Daniel Bravo Hernández -- speak to each other in Spanish, which I suppose was an inventive twist on the classic love story even if it prevented me from fully understanding most of what was said.

I might have been more receptive to the play’s urban reimagining had I not recently seen a similar approach to “Aida” at the Met. And it didn’t help that the production was somehow simultaneously heavy-handed (with “ABOLISH ICE” painted on a giant wall) and baffling. (I'm still trying to figure out what any of it had to do with the Montagues and Capulets -- and don’t get me started on the nonbinary Mercutio.)

But Shakespeare is Shakespeare, and Central Park is Central Park. So it was hard not to get swept up in it all once the sun went down -- and my guard -- went down. 

Love child's playground?

P.S. Cheers to the couple who got married on stage after the show ended!