cover of episode Sam Gold’s “Romeo + Juliet” Is Shakespeare for the Youth

Sam Gold’s “Romeo + Juliet” Is Shakespeare for the Youth

2024/11/12
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Sam Gold: 本剧的创作初衷是为了引起年轻观众的共鸣，并让他们思考生活中艰难的部分，例如青少年自杀问题。他认为戏剧可以成为一个共同参与的场所，让即使观点不同的观众也能在同一空间内呼吸相同的空气。他试图通过现代化的演绎方式，例如使用流行歌曲、服装和舞台设计，来吸引年轻观众，并让他们欣赏莎士比亚的语言和智慧。他认为他的改编忠实于莎士比亚的创作初衷，并试图以现代的方式与年轻观众沟通，他并不认为自己是在解构莎士比亚的作品，而是以一种真实的方式与文本进行互动，并结合时代背景进行解读。他偏爱圆形剧场，因为它更利于演员与观众互动，并能更好地营造亲密感，从而更好地表达戏剧中的情感。他认为粉丝文化是戏剧的一部分，并对年轻观众的热情感到欣慰。他认为戏剧可以帮助年轻人应对心理健康危机，例如青少年自杀问题。 Vinson Cunningham: 他认为该版本的《罗密欧与朱丽叶》像是《亢奋》里的青少年们演绎莎士比亚戏剧的产物，并对该剧的现代化演绎方式表示认可。

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Key Insights

Why did Sam Gold choose to direct Romeo and Juliet now?

Gold aimed to create a production that resonated with young people, addressing their mental health crisis and drawing them away from screens. He saw Romeo and Juliet as a timely play about teen suicide that could offer a communal experience and help young audiences.

How does Sam Gold's approach to Shakespeare differ from traditional interpretations?

Gold rejects the label of deconstructionist, emphasizing that he is not dismantling the plays but engaging with them authentically. He uses contemporary elements like pop music and modern dress to connect with a young audience, mirroring Shakespeare's own use of popular culture in his time.

What is Sam Gold's goal with his Romeo and Juliet production?

Gold's primary goal is to create a production that speaks directly to a young audience, making them feel included and engaged. He aims to excite them about theater and provide a space where they can experience and process their own emotions and societal issues.

How does Sam Gold view the role of film in his theater productions?

Gold sees film as a tool to enhance storytelling, drawing parallels between Shakespeare's use of popular culture and his own incorporation of film techniques. He uses elements from film, like close-ups and quick shifts between serious and humorous moments, to create a more immersive and relatable experience for the audience.

What challenges does Sam Gold face in directing for Broadway compared to experimental theater?

Gold faces the challenge of balancing his experimental approach with the expectations of a broad audience. He must navigate the conventions of Broadway while maintaining his commitment to authentic engagement with the text, ensuring that his productions resonate with a diverse audience without compromising his artistic vision.

Chapters
Director Sam Gold discusses his decision to create a Gen Z-focused production of 'Romeo + Juliet' in the post-pandemic era, aiming to engage young audiences and address mental health issues.
  • Gold's production is designed to attract young audiences, mirroring the vibe of 'Euphoria'.
  • The play features stars Rachel Zegler and Kit Connor, and music by Jack Antonoff.
  • Gold aims to connect with young people experiencing mental health crises, including teen suicide.

Shownotes Transcript

Sam Gold has directed five Shakespeare tragedies, but his latest, “Romeo + Juliet,” is something different—a loud, clubby production designed to attract audiences the age of its protagonists. “It’s as if the teens from ‘Euphoria’ decided that they had to do Shakespeare,” Vinson Cunningham) said, “and this is what they came up with.” The production stars Rachel Zegler, who starred in Steven Spielberg’s remake of “West Side Story),” and Kit Connor, of the Gen Z Netflix hit “Heartstopper,” and features music by Jack Antonoff. Gold, who cut his teeth doing experimental theatre with the venerable downtown company the Wooster Group, bristles at the view that his production is unfaithful to the original. “A lot of people falsely sort of label me as a deconstructionist or something, because they’re wearing street clothes,” he tells Cunningham. “I’m not deconstructing these plays. I’m doing the play. . . . I think it’s a gross misunderstanding of the difference between conventions and authentic engagement in a text.” Gold aspires to excite kids to get off their phones. “We are in a mental-health crisis [of] teen suicide. I’m doing a play about teen suicide, and all those young people are coming. And I think we can help them.”