Don't let the controversy keep you from seeing an amazing 'Romeo and Juliet'

By Anthony Poston

I am an actor with the Southeast Missouri State University theatre department. I am in the much-talked-about production of "Romeo and Juliet" as Lord Montague. I am writing in regard to many of the issues that have been discussed in the past few months about this show.

I knew the day I saw the cast list we were going to have a lot of talk about the interracial relationship of the show. I think the show has been blown way out of proportion because of this.

I appreciated the article written by Matt Sanders addressing the lack of black actors and black shows in the area. However, I do not believe the second article was necessary. Yes, the interracial relationship does add another aspect to the forbidden-love situation, but the show is not about race. It is about the strong love between two young people and the effect it has on everyone.

Kenn Stilson has said on numerous occasions that not one thing would change about our production if Romeo and Juliet were both white.

Another aspect I felt was ignored were the great performances of the actors in the show. The review only showcased the Montague boys and the fighting, which are great aspects of the show.

I was upset to see that the superb performances of Dr. Robert Dillon Jr., Elisa Curtis, Mike Culbertson, Alex Miller, Nick Cutelli and Larry Lozier were not mentioned at all. These people and their characters pushed the show forward.

Of course, the thing that gets me the most was the fact that the only thing said about Desmond Gray and Emily Brown, who play Romeo and Juliet, was that he is black and she is white. They did not work as hard as they did to get an honorable mention in the paper, if they got one at all.

I have been mentioned more in these articles than these people because of being interracially mixed and how it related to the other race issues.

Other reviews that have been written about our shows, such as "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" and "Trojan Women," showcased the actors' performances, but this strayed from that.

I will say now that everyone in the cast does an amazing job in presenting this story. Even if people do not understand Shakespearean language, people will understand everything from the performances.

A lot of wrong information was given in the Friday article. They may have been little mistakes, but it was unfair to the people who worked so hard.

First, it was the talented Rhonda Weller-Stilson who designed every single costume piece in the show. Also, Pat Atkinson, not Chris, designed the set. Thanks to these dedicated individuals and all of the students who help build the costumes and sets, the show looks beyond amazing. I think Rhonda and Pat deserve an apology and article stating that they were the ones responsible for what they did.

Coming from a person who used to hate everything Shakespeare ever did, I will say I understand if people refuse to see the play because they don't like the author. It's your money. Do what you want with it. But don't refuse to see the play because of a review or because you think we are presenting an R-rated performance.

The show isn't G-rated by any means, but it was not done to shock or cause uproar in our community. It is simply an expression of art done in a unique manner.

Some schools have refused to come see the show because of the negative comments from people. If you think what is done in this show is bad, try following your kids around and see how they behave around their best friends. That's what people do, even if you don't. We talk about sex and relationships and make lewd comments and gestures. It is part of growing up. We aren't all saints.

This show is a classic and is the biggest romance story of all time. If anything, parents and teachers should be excited to take these students, who are learning about history and culture, to a show they can relate to and be into the whole time. Students will be happy to see a show that relates to them more closely than the traditional way this is done.

Not only do I encourage people to see this show, I challenge them to see it. I challenge everyone to see it before you judge it. I challenge everyone to see something and experience something that is different from the norm. I challenge everyone to see it and not be blown away by the different aspects of the show, performance and technical. I challenge high school students who were coming but were canceled to buy a ticket and learn something about art and expression. I challenge you not to be so close-minded about this show.

This show is a work of art, not a piece of trash like many movies made today.

Hope to see you at the show.

Anthony Poston of Poplar Bluff, Mo., is a student at Southeast Missouri State University.