By Quinn Kinsella
The theater department of the City College of New York’s most recent production was the much-anticipated adaptation of William Shakespeare’s classic play, Romeo and Juliet. It is a story ingrained in the pop culture psyche and has been retold countless times. CCNY’s production of the classic account of star-crossed lovers is an inspiring and heartfelt interpretation with a talented cast and superb production. Written by Jon Jory and based on Shakespeare’s original play, Shakespeare, Clearly: Romeo & Juliet was directed by Bridget Kelso Anthony and starred Sally Castillo and Matt Konig in the titular roles. The four-day run at Aaron Davis Hall ended with its final performance on December 7th, concluding the theater department’s fall season.
Every generation has had its own Romeo and Juliet. From Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey in the classic 1968 film to Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes in Baz Luhrmann’s visually stunning 1996 version, countless young actors have taken on the roles of the tragic couple. And when it comes to CCNY’s Romeo & Juliet, the performances were a knockout. The college’s theater department boasts some of the most talented young actors in Harlem.
A compelling ensemble cast makes up the two houses of Montague and Capulet, with additional players rounding out the company.
Matt Konig plays a dashing and confident Romeo in CCNY’s production, as sure of himself as in his love for Juliet. Konig is able to do something quite special with his performance that I haven’t seen with any other Romeos: capturing the fragility of a young man in love. From his lengthy monologues to his comedic quips, Konig bears it all in such a refreshingly contemporary way that Shakespeare’s crisp and yearning dialogue is made anew. Sally Castillo is the shining star of this performance. There is a twinkle in her eyes throughout the whole play that evokes that youthful pining and innocent desire. Although Juilet’s dialogue is iconic, Castillo breathes unique life into the lines. The audience is on the edge of their seats while she keeps Romeo on the edge of his. Though we surely know what happens next, Sally Castillo keeps her audience guessing and always has the high ground.
The chemistry between the leads is impeccable. When the actors are just an inch away from each other's faces, you can practically see the sparks flying and catching fire on the curtains of the auditorium. For those not involved in the production, you might be surprised to learn that Sally and Matt are an item in real life. The love birds are amazing actors on their own, but one thing they don’t have to simulate on stage is love. Together they act with such fluidity and ease that it almost seems to be one singular performance. This makes the whole play so much more authentic. Who wouldn’t want to see a Romeo & Juliet where Romeo and Juliet are dating in real life? It was quite a beautiful and special performance to see.
Besides the two leads, Aniah Havis was the stand-out and stole every scene she was in. She portrayed Prince Escalus, the prince of Verona who looks after the feuding Royal houses Romeo and Juliet belong to. Havis introduces the play and gives the audience closing remarks, making tidy book ends for the play. She has a commanding presence on stage and is sure to make it in the theater world. Give her five years and she’ll go from the stage of City College to the stage of Broadway. Havis has been a staple in the theater department here on campus, appearing in numerous productions including 2022’s Enfrascada and 2023’s Intimate Apparel. Her star is just rising; we will surely see her again in a performance in the near future.
The rest of the ensemble is filled with such enjoyable performances that the two-hour run time flies by. Playing the Lord and Lady of the Capulet House were Sib Shah and Karina Verna, respectively. The Lord and Lady of House Montague were played by Sam Weinstein and Morayo Idowu. Danah Hardison was Benvolio and Jociel Tambone was Mercutio. Lastly, Friar Lawrence was played by Ashanti Lopez. Behind the scenes, Bryan Stanton worked on set design and Brian Aldous was in charge of lighting design. Denis Hurd was the intimacy coordinator and Christian Kelly-Sordelet was the fight coordinator.
The costume design by Mary Myers is the best costuming the department has ever put out. Lucious and vibrant fabrics fitted perfectly for the actors evoked the essence of the characters and worked wonders to propel the story forward. Sally Castillo’s costume for Juilet was a yellow dress that depicted her youth and girlhood while also illustrating the deep intelligence and yearning Castillo brought to the role. The costumes were loaned from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the history of the stitching makes the show what it is. The authenticity they lend to the production puts it on another level from previous City College productions. Additionally, working in the wardrobe department were Chrisitan Torres and Rebeca Wolfgang, and Darlene Carr was the costume design foreman. Without a doubt, the theater department of City College continues on its streak of vibrant and innovative productions because of the amazing team working on stage and behind the scenes.
The theater department of CCNY has put another home run under its belt. Breathing new life into a classic is a difficult task, but the team behind Shakespeare, Clearly: Romeo & Juliet did just that. Anthony’s direction and the lead performances by Konig and Castillo make the cautionary tale of these soul mates relevant and relatable. This forbidden love story has been told time and time again, but this interpretation was special and unique. For those lucky enough to catch the performance, they know that what they saw was spectacular. To stay updated on the City College’s theater department and see what the spring season has on deck, check out their website here.
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