R&J, a gender-reversed Romeo and Juliet

R&J was a fascinating take on the story we all know so well! It was so refreshing to see powerful female characters that are normally sparse in classical works, and the acting was superb. The production itself asked interesting questions about gender politics and dynamics that inspired a great post-show conversation. Several particularly memorable moments of the story took on new life through memorable staging, lighting, and meaningful use of flexible props. Strongly recommended!... full review

Superior acting, elegant set design, thought-provoking role reversals -- GO SEE THIS! It is fantastic. So beautifully executed.... full review

#SeeItLA - Mine is Yours has a well-cut, fast paced R&J that gets you from beginning to end with no intermission. I can't say that I had any huge epiphanies or insights into the story by seeing it gender switched, but it was definitely intriguing to see these well-known scenes played from the perspective of the opposite gender. In particular, my favorites were the scene where Romea goes to the Friar after slaying Tybalt and then subsequently when Julian goes to the Friar for a solution to marrying Paris. Both of those played very well with the switched genders. Dane Oliver, as Julian, Mary Ellen Schneider, as Romea, Alan Blumenfeld, as nurse, and Cj Merriman, as Tybalt, all delivered impressive performances. My only complaint is that I would... full review

Mine is Yours' production of R&J was wonderfully paced, nuanced by the actors, and a refreshing opportunity to see Shakespeare's characters interact without gender restrictions. By switching the gender roles, the company found more of a middle ground of gender equality. Rather than having men play at what it means to be woman and women play at what it means to be a man, the company of actors played each character as a person. This highlighted the fact that anyone, man or woman, can feel and experience everything in every character's journey regardless of sex. Wonderful performances!... full review

I had a chance to see R & J and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story and the language were crystal clear and there were some fantastic performances, especially from Katherine James, Alan Blumenfeld and Mary Ellen Schneider. The play was directed beautifully by Abby Craden. The gender bending concept was fascinating and truly thought-provoking. It was amazing to see a play that one is very familiar with, through a whole new lens. It was great and great fun!... full review

R&J was a fascinating take on a story I've seen 100 times, but found myself with a renewed curiosity on this one. I've seen cross-dressed Shakespeare before, but the concept of actually switching all of the genders (including reversed pronouns) was novel to me. Mary Ellen Schneider plays "Romea" with power yet femininity, and Dane Oliver plays "Julian" with the guilessness of a young boy, but still an undeniable masculinity. These machinations force a very interesting reexamination of the gender politics of the play, especially in the relationship between Julian and the now Lady Capulet. The palpable chemistry between Schneider and Oliver drives the story very nicely, making the love scenes quite provocative (aided in no small part by the co... full review

Mine is Yours’ gender-reversed production of Romeo and Juliet is heartfelt and entrancing. The relationship between the two main characters is so tender and endearing that even watching the actors gaze across the stage at each other in utter silence is captivating. What struck me about the performance was not so much the gender identity of the characters as their humanity. The gender reversal frees the passions, dilemmas, and relationships of the characters from their ties to masculinity or femininity and instead highlights their undeniable humanity. Strong ensemble work and moments of beautifully staged physical work between scenes add to the impact of the production. A must-see!... full review

BEST balcony scene ever, BEST death scene ever, Best " one night together" ever, Best chemistry between R & J ever. The gender reversal is amazing to see and hear. DON'T miss this production. You'll thank me. ... full review

This was a really interesting portrayal of Romeo and Juliet. Let's face it- Romeo is basically a teenage girl, so the idea of him being portrayed by a woman is not that far off. What was surprising was the relationship between the Montague clan- Benvolia, Mercutia, and Romea. This trio of ladies having fun, drinking, being crass, and genuinely sharing love for one another was really well done. The relationship of Capulet being an overbearing and abusive mother to a sensitive son was also surprising and makes you really think about the original text and why we accept that when it's both a mother and father to a daughter. I was sad to see Tybalt's character cut so small, but what can you do with only 90 min? This show would be worth explorin... full review

If tough women and gentle men don’t sound like the dramatis personae of any Shakespeare play you’ve ever seen or read, the time has come to meet the characters who populate R&J, A Gender-Reversed Romeo And Juliet, a production so all-around superb that it is “Hollywood Fringe” in name only. Click on "Original Article' to read my full review at StageSceneLA.com... full review