CLASSIC LOVE STORY HIGHLIGHTS SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

Juliet, played by Abbie Crites, asks her father, Lord Capulet, played by Dan Akre, for his forgiveness in a scene from Romeo and Juliet. Behind them are Cheryl Yount, as Lady Capulet, and Sharon Wickerham as the nurse.

CAPE GIRARDEAU - The highlight of the Shakespeare Festival at Southeast Missouri State University will take place next weekend with the theater department's production of Shakespeare's classic love story, "Romeo & Juliet."

In rehearsal since late January, the play features 27 cast members in what director Robert Dillon calls a spectacular and non-traditional production.

"It's not a traditionalist version of Romeo & Juliet," Dillon said of the theater department. "It's not a rehash of the movie, and the 1400s period concerns are really not that important."

Dillon explained that because the themes of Shakespeare are timeless, the department decided to make them the focus of the play.

"It's timeless in the best sense of the word," he said. "The themes of young, passionate love, hot-headedness and how violence begets violence are probably more important today than they've ever been."

The play stars junior Jay Cross as Romeo. Cross, of Billings, Mont., has appeared in various theater department productions, including "Amadeus," "Trojan Women," "Private Wars" and "The Beaux Strategem."

Sophomore Abbie Crites plays Juliet. A native of Wheatland, Wyo., Crites has had roles in "Hansel and Gretel," "The Fantastiks" and "The Beaux Strategem."

Unlike Crites and Cross, Dillon said some of the cast have little or no stage experience.

"It's good for them, the community and the university that we can offer students a fair number of opportunities to be on stage regardless of their experience," Dillon said. "I've seen people with very little experience really explode into fine actors and actresses."

The challenging nature of Shakespeare has made for long and sometimes grueling rehearsals, Dillon said.

"It uses elevated, difficult language because it is beautiful and stimulating," he said. "Shakespeare knew how to put together an evening's entertainment."

Dillon said the poetic diction used in the play was not everyday language even in it's own time. "It's a challenge, but it's not an insurmountable challenge."

As with any production of "Romeo & Juliet," the spectacular sword fight scenes are the highlight of the production. Doug Pecka acts as student director for the scenes and Miki McNeal is the production stage manager.

"The audience really responds to these scenes," Dillon said. "Sword play to Shakespearian audiences are what car chases and shoot-`em-ups are to today's audiences."

Veteran theater department performers Alden Field ("The Odd Couple," "The Fantastiks") as Tybalt and Jeff South ("The Shadow Box" "Brighton Beach Memoirs") as Mercution will be performing in some of the sword-fight scenes.

Other performers are stage veteran Doug Powers ("The Fantastiks," "The Shadow Box) as Escalus; Cheryl A. Yount ("The Odd Couple") as Lady Capulet; Sharon Wickerham ("Strange Snow") as the nurse; Mark Pearson as Montague; John Clippard ("The Odd Couple") as Benvolio; Matt Garner as Paris; and Eric Shalk as Friar Laurence.

Dillon said that despite its challenging nature, people will find the theater department's production of "Romeo & Juliet" entertaining as well as theatrical. "These people," he said, "have really risen to the challenge."

The play runs April 12-20 in the Forrest H. Rose Theatre on campus. Performances begin at 8 p.m.

Tickets are on sale and are available by calling the university box office at 651-2265. Reserved seats are $4 for the general public and $3 for students, faculty, staff and senior citizens.