Oh Romeo, Romeo...

Today I had the pleasure of acting in one of my all time favorite theatrical treasures: Romeo & Juliet's balcony scene. I have always loved this story. The beautiful rhythmic writing of the greatest writer of all times... the innocence of young love... the high stakes in its way... I love all about this play EXCEPT THE END.
I often wish it could be rewritten and have at least Juliet live. After all, she shows such maturity and wisdom earlier on....doesn't she know that she can live a life WITHOUT A MAN!? Hello? Feminism anyone...? But alas, the story wouldn't be a tragedy nor would it leave such a mark on the world if it had a happy ending. And who am I to be tempted to rewrite Shakespeare anyway!? The nerve! 

What I love most about these two young lovers is how abashedly they surrender to love.
When love takes over - one can move mountains. 'For stony limits cannot hold love out, and what love can do that dares love attempt...'  As Romeo says.

I feel like even in my most innocent of years, I had fear, or shame, or pride in the matters of the heart. Always a tad too much to really fully surrender to falling in love as these two young lovers fall. Of course, they fall to their deaths, so maybe it's a good thing I have never quite followed in their footsteps...;)

But how beautiful it is to have these pieces of art that let us imagine falling in love as epically as Romeo and Juliet had, and that teach us on the immense generosity and power of love: 'My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep, the more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite.' As Juliet teaches us, hundreds of years after her inception... Her love may be infinite, and so is this story, as it seems. 

With all the global hardships this year... the world can use more unabashed love these days, wouldn't you say?

*Here is a link to the play. Read on and surrender to Shakespeare's take on tragic young love...