Stratford Festival presents Romeo and Juliet – through July 30, 2020 Online LiveEvents July 19, 2020 2445 Romeo and Juliet Wayne Best as Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet. Photo: Cylla von Tiedemann Falling headlong in love, two teenagers defy the long-simmering hatred between their families. But daring to love one’s enemy comes with a terrible cost, as the needless sacrifice of young lives brings this heartbreaking story to its tragic conclusion. The animosity between two families of Verona, the Montagues and the Capulets, has recently boiled over, with members of the rival households brawling in the streets. One night, Romeo, a Montague, crashes a party given by the Capulets in order to meet up with a young woman called Rosaline, with whom he is infatuated. Thoughts of her vanish from his mind, however, when he catches sight of Juliet, daughter of the head of the Capulet household. Juliet is equally smitten with Romeo – but her father already has other plans for her. “Must-see theatre” – Postmedia “An accomplishment” – The Globe and Mail “Sublime” – Broadway World “Shows passions both vivid and violent” – Toronto Star “Riveting” – Capital Critics Circle “Funny, moving, thrilling” – National Post www.stratfordfestival.ca The Stratford Festival has been a shining star of Canadian theatre since July 13, 1953, when Alec Guinness, in the title role of Richard III, emoted the lines, “Now is the winter of our discontent / Made glorious summer by this son of York”.
