Romeo and Juliet in J’lem

August 18, 2011 - 9:00 AM by

It’s true that I’ve been posting a lot about parks, partially because I’ve been spending a lot of time exploring local ones with my two boys and various friends, and it is just that time of year; late summer, little childcare available, afternoons cool off around five p.m.

We found ourselves at Jerusalem’s Bloomfield Park yesterday afternoon, but it wasn’t perchance. Last night was the second night of Theater in the Rough’s performance of Romeo and Juliet: in motion, a great way to enjoy Shakespeare, a thrilling story and the bucolic surroundings of Bloomfield, which is situated just behind the King David Hotel.

The idea behind a performance in motion is just that, the actors and audience move around several times over the course of the play, making it that much more interactive as it involves the audience in the motion of the play. By staging it in a park — as Theatre in the Rough did with Twelfth Night last year as well — the production utilizes the surrounding environs, from the glade of fir trees to the large stone cube sculptures that are used by the players as a kind of alternative set.

As for the audience, they sit on the grass, some on chairs, some on blankets, some on the grass, and those with small children, like yours truly, can wander farther afield if necessary, frolicking in a Shakespearean manner on the grassy hillocks of the park.

The play is free, although there is a suggested NIS 30 donation to offset costs of the production. There are also great-looking tee-shirts for sale, and the play ends just before dark really settles in. Just remember to bring that sweatshirt, hoodie or sweater for the cool Jerusalem evening air. There are four more performances: Thursday, August 18; Sunday, August 21; Wednesday, August 24; Thursday, August 25.

Tags: , , , • Category: Art, Entertainment, General, History and Culture, Immigrant Moments, Israeliness 

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One Comment on Romeo and Juliet in J’lem

  1. Parking maven | ISRAELITY on Wed, Aug 31st 2011 8:32 AM

    2. [...] experience. We had cautiously parked in a rock-filled lot that was being used by several venues, Theatre in the Rough, Chutzot Hayotzer and probably some other summer event. It wasn’t even really a lot, just a [...]

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