The Theatre Company of Saugus (TCS) presented Romeo & Juliet, the romantic tragedy by William Shakespeare, in an outdoor setting during August 2012. This production of one of the best known and loved works of all drama, about two lovers from warring families, iss set in the here and now. The time is the immediate present and the play is set in familiar Massachusetts environs. These Capulets and Montagues are not the grand families usually depicted in the play. On the contrary, they are those that cultivate antagonism with others to distract from the difficulties of their own lives. Yet, love, or more appropriately, passion; particularly the passion of youth, does not make economic or temporal distinctions.
This production, the first outdoors by TCS in many many years, was held at the beautiful Breakheart Reservation in association with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and The Friends of Breakheart Reservation. The show was presented on the lawn just outside the Dunne Visitor Center. Access to the area is best from the 177 Forest Street entrance, off of the Lynn Fells Parkway, in Saugus. Parking is available at the Visitor Center and at the Kasabuski Rink on Forest Street. Please see our Directions page. Because of rain, three of the performances were moved indoors to the ESUMC. One outdoor performance was cut short by rain.
There were eight performances over two weekends in August 2012, including four afternoon matinees and four in the evening. The performance dates were Fridays and Saturdays, August 10, 11, 17, & 18, starting at 7:30 PM, with matinees on Saturdays and Sundays, August 11, 12, 18, & 19 at 2:00 PM.
Admission was FREE with a $10.00 suggested donation. TCS offered refreshments and raffles as well. Seating for the production was on the lawn so patrons were asked to bring a chair or blanket for their comfort in enjoying the show. The show does contain mature situations and parental discretion is advised.
Romeo & Juliet was directed by TCS member, Nicholas Meunier with stage management by Matt Huffman. The cast included many company veterans and several talented newcomers. The emotional Romeo was played by Stephen Sacchetti, and his passionate girlfriend Juliet, by Drew Reinhardt. Her mother, Capulet, was played by Brit Mitchell, and his father, Montague, by Stephen Russo.
Capulet’s friend and Juliet’s surrogate, the Nurse. was played by Nicole Leotsakos. The hot headed Tybalt was played by Eli Hamel, and Juliet’s suitor Paris by Tom Ostrowski. Romeo’s advisor Laurence was played Bobby Imperato, and his cousin Benvolio by Billy Thompson. Mercutio, Romeo’s best friend, who may harbor other feelings toward him, was played by Lexi Deschene.
The authority figure, the Prince, was played by Larry Segel. The various partisans to the Capulets and Montagues included Adam Sell (understudying for Josh Black) as Sampson, Ashleigh Fafard as Gregory, Amanda Allen as Abraham, and Shannon Bentley (understudying for Naomi Olofson) as Balthasar. Nicholas Beach played the Apothecary.
Click here to download the flyer for this show.
Theatre Company of Saugus 