Acclaimed director to stage fashionable Romeo & Juliet
- Source: Global Times
- [08:09 March 31 2011]
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Renowned mainland theater director Meng Jinghui announced Sunday afternoon in Beijing that he is to stage a Chinese-language version of William Shakespeare's classic tragedy Romeo & Juliet with fresh elements that have seldom been seen in the scores of productions that have been launched of the famous play.
According to Meng, the original Romeo & Juliet was the most fashionable and pioneering play in Shakespeare's time.
"I want to deliver it with a different touch that feels modern and distinctly for our time," he said, adding that he is planning on incorporating a number of elements of pop culture, goth style, metal rock and even a few vampire tropes.
"The audience will see the difference in the staging, props, costumes, makeup, lines, music and dance," Meng said.
He said that he will continue to make use of the young and talented cast of his previous play Kongzhong Huayuan Mousha'an (Murder in the Hanging Garden). Romeo & Juliet also sees Meng's second collaboration with production house Trends Media after last year's original musical Sange Juzi De Aiqing (Three Oranges' Love).
The new version of Romeo & Juliet will premiere in Beijing April 14 in Fengchao Theater and tour to Shanghai and rest of China in May.
