The world’s favourite love story gets ‘mashed-up’

Masquerade Theatre will be giving Romeo and Juliet a modern, musical spin with an upcoming production written by Malcolm Galea.

3 March 2012, 12:00am

2 min read

The Capulet clan: one half of the young performers taking part in Masquerades modern musical take on Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet.

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Romeo and Juliet are arguably the ultimate couple - the two youngsters who gave their all for true love and paid the ultimate sacrifice. In the last 500 years since William Shakespeare wrote the famous play about the 'star cross'd' lovers, Romeo and Juliet has been produced countless times and adapted across various media.

Masquerade's latest offering will present an updated interpretation of the classic piece in the form of an innovative 'mash-up musical' in a modern-day setting.

R&J Forever tackles the tragic love story as if it had been written nowadays. Set in a modern-day Verona, we see Romeo, a local trouble-maker, fall in love with Juliet - a young celebrity that lives among all the other pretentious rich people on Capulet Hill.

Bursting with pop culture references and tongue-in-cheek nods to the original text, this musical version of the forbidden love between a 'teenage dirt-bag' and an 'uptown girl' consists of a mashed-up song list that is made up of a great variety of modern and classic songs. Audiences will be treated to such unlikely combinations as Adele and the Eurthymics, Billy Idol and Pink, Eminem and the Beatles, and many other musical treats all sung with gusto by the energetic cast of dynamic youngsters.

R&J Forever features a company of 29 upcoming Maltese actors and actresses who bring an energetic edge to the show, which promises to have audiences hooked into the story from the word go.

Written by Malcolm Galea (Porn - the Musical) and directed by Wesley Ellul (Spring Awakening) with musical arrangements and coaching by Roger Tirazona (Simply Webber) and choreography by Colette Caruana, R&J Forever promises a delectable theatrical treat that is not to be missed.

R&J Forever will be playing at MITP Theatre, Valletta from Saturday, March 17 through to Sunday, March 25. Tickets are at €12.50 for March 17 and 18 performances. All other shows are at €15. Bookings: www.ticketline.com.mt, 79 793737. For more information log on to: http://www.masquerademalta.com.