The story of those star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, is known to us all as the most famous of tragic tales. While Shakespeare’s drama popularized the story as we know it today, the inspiration for Romeo and Juliet's tale goes back to Greek antiquity and the myth of Pyramus and Thisbe.
Inspired by Prokofiev’s timeless score, and faithful to the neo-classical choreographic tradition, Ivan Cavallari centers his retelling of this love story on the characters Romeo and Juliet, whose names represent both the idealism and fatality of love at first sight. Drawing on Italian literature from the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, Cavallari takes the liberty to reframe the Shakespearian story with context and brings a new twist to the original mythical drama. He bases himself namely on Paolo Malatesta and Francesca Da Rimini, Dante Alighieri's tormented lovers. Two characters who truly did live in the Middle Ages and appear in the Canto V of Hell of his Divine Comedy. In his work, Dante also offers us the first literary mentions of the Cappelletti and Montecchi, who will later on become the Capulets and Montagues, respective families of Juliet and Romeo. The resulting setting in Cavallari's ballet is equally uncluttered and full of references to ignite the spectators’ imagination, transporting them to a place beyond time where our eternal lovers’ plight plays out across the eras.
Cavallari preserves the tragic and humorous dimensions of Shakespeare's play while reappropriating the dramaturgy in his own way. He namely introduces a new character, Lady Guelfi, and develops the storylines of the parents with rich intrigue and dangerous liaisons. All the ingredients of a tragedy are present: innocence, passion, games of power. His work is a portrait of the disorder of the world and the fragility of existence, mirroring Shakespearean themes of death and the quest for redemption*.
ACT I
The town of Verona slowly awakens, and the young Romeo Montague is getting some air. The young man strolls and daydreams: Romeo is still searching for love. He thinks of the beautiful Rosaline, who does not share his feelings.
The town begins to come to life. Rosaline appears. The inseparable Mercutio and Benvolio arrive, looking for Romeo. The three men come upon Tybalt Capulet, who is looking to sow discord among the citizenry of Verona.
Lord Montague arrives on a white horse and cuts through the crowd. He is followed by Lord Capulet and then Lady Guelfi, also on horseback.
A little later, at the home of the Capulet family, Juliet and her best friend, Sabrina, are laughing happily in her room. Enter Lady Guelfi and her son, Paris. Lady Guelfi has come to present Juliet with her future husband.
The same evening, the Capulets invite all of Verona to a great celebration in honor of the engagement of their daughter to the young Paris.
Mercutio, Benvolio and Romeo arrive late, and all three happen on Juliet. It is the first meeting between Romeo and Juliet, who from that moment cannot take their eyes off each other.
While Mercutio and Benvolio clown around and stir up trouble at the ball, the Montague and Capulet families endeavor to maintain order. What no one knows is that Lady Guelfi is in love with Lord Montague, and that Lady Montague is having an affair with Lord Capulet. Tybalt, annoyed by the buffoonery of Mercutio and Benvolio and irritated by the games of love between Romeo and Juliet, is looking for a fight.
After the ball, Romeo and Juliet meet up by the riverbank. Tybalt discovers the loving couple’s hideout, and separates them. At the same moment, in another place in Verona, Lord Montague and Lady Capulet meet in secret.
Late at night, Juliet is taking a stroll. Surprised, she chances on Romeo, who has been waiting for her. They give free rein to their love. It’s an encounter of two pure and innocent hearts, ready to conquer life and death.
ACT II
Verona is buzzing and the streets are swarming with its citizens.
Benvolio, Mercutio and Sabrina meet up: the two boys woo the young woman. During this time, in a hidden spot in the city, Friar Laurence marries Romeo and Juliet in secret.
A little later, Tybalt comes across Mercutio and Benvolio, and the three set about brawling. Tybalt gets carried away and kills Mercutio. Romeo, alerted by Sabrina, arrives at the scene. Enraged, he in turn kills Tybalt.
Before fleeing, he meets Juliet one last time.
Forced into exile, he attends, hidden, the marriage of Juliet and Paris imposed by Lady. Capulet and Lady Guelfi.
Friar Laurence offers Juliet and Romeo a potion that, taken in a small dose, will relieve their pain. Juliet refuses. She and Romeo say goodbye. During this time, the lovers Lady Montague and Lord Capulet meet up in the forest. They are discovered by Lady Guelfi and Lady Capulet, and in a vicious outburst, they murder Lady Montague.
Juliet arrives and discovers the scene. Devastated, she hurries back to see Friar Laurence, and finally accepts his potion.
The day of Lady Montague’s funeral, Juliet, who wants done with everything, swallows a large amount of the potion. As she breathes her last, Romeo finds her and decides to join her in death. The two lovers, through the darkness, in an infinite embrace, are now united for all eternity.
