By Jenny Watts
Staff Writer

Westford Academy Theater Arts has embraced the challenge of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. Directed by Luke Jorgensen and opening this week, the show features a new angle by setting the story in 1980’s Belfast, Ireland during the conflict between the Catholics and the Protestants.

Contrasting to other renditions of this classic play, WATA’s Romeo and Juliet exhibits a darker minimalist vibe, with their conservative use of set pieces to create the characters environment.

“[Luke Jorgenson’s] modern lens had yielded a heavier and darker play. This is a play about people who fall down and don’t get back up, and that is very evident” said arts coordinator Michael Towers.

The show also features musical numbers by modern artists such as U2, the Pogues, and other rock bands. Irish dancing is also showcased, giving the show a contemporary and captivating spirit.

To continue the artistic changes, the show now focuses on one of the period’s religious battles, “taking the familial conflict and making it a religious one,” commented Towers. As a result, the Montagues are now the Monaghan, poor Catholics, and the Capulets are now the Kilpatricks, wealthy Protestants.

There are many difficult aspects when performing a work as old and as known as Romeo and Juliet, one of which is relaying the language so that it is relevant and meaningful.

“The most difficult part of taking a classical work to a modern audience is making the language understandable, and that all comes down to the actors. It is up to them to have command of the language, and they do. They have worked very hard,” said Towers,

Stage manager Nick Calow is very hopeful for the play, and believes it will be a success.

“All of us worked long and hard to make it the best show and the last one for many of our seniors,” said Calow.

The work of over 50 Westford Academy students and staff has gone into this production, in addition to long rehearsals on holidays and weekends.

“I hope that people come and see it for more than just a theatrical experience … I hope that our audience will be able to go in and watch this play as though they don’t know the outcome,” said Towers.

The show will be held on April 25, 26, 27, and May 2, 3, and 4. All shows begin at 7:30 pm.