Reviewed by Sara Yaqouti
Romeo + Juliet by William Shakespeare; directed by Livy Scanlon; scenic design by Peter M. Rule; costume design by Chelsea Kerl; lighting design by Anshuman Bhatia; sound design and composition by Scott O’Brien; fight choreography by Robert Isaacson; intimacy choreography by Angelique Archer; choreography by Dr. Rita Mookerjee; associate direction and dramaturgy by Dr. Kathryn Moncrief; production stage manager Jane Siebels; produced by The Hanover Theatre Repertory in Worcester, MA through October 11th, 2026.
The Hanover Theatre Repertory’s dazzling take on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is a celebration of love and hope. Every element of the production gives a sense of optimism and determination amidst great hardship that is charming to witness. Director Livy Scanlon beautifully leans into the heightened premise of Romeo and Juliet’s instant connection and rapid proposal in a way that feels refreshing and expands on this already iconic story.
In Romeo and Juliet, Lady Capulet organizes a party so that suitor Count Paris can court her daughter Juliet in hopes that they will marry. Members of the rival house of Montague, Romeo, Mercutio, and Benvolio, plan to sneak into this feast so that lovesick Romeo can have a chance to court Rosaline. Instead, Juliet meets Romeo and the pair fall in love. Being of rival houses, they get married secretly which, alongside Mercutio’s heartbreaking death at the hands of Tybalt Capulet, sets off a chain of events that culminates in the heartbreaking deaths of the young lovers and the houses finally resolving their age-old feud.
The design elements of the production were fertile ground for director Livy Scanlon’s beautifully crafted tone of sincerity, joy, and laughter. The scenic design by Peter M. Rule was incredible. The set’s seemingly ancient large stone slabs were covered in verdant foliage growing in between cracks in the stone, a metaphor for how love can survive in even the harshest of conditions. The costumes by Chelsea Kerl were equally gorgeous. They felt both futuristic and traditional, so you couldn’t quite place when the play was taking place. Earthy tones were used, matching the set, with costumes in oranges, greens, and browns used to distinguish alliances within the two families. A powerful and gritty rock score, with sound design and composition by Scott O’Brien, made the story feel both electric and fun, especially during the party scene.
Alyssa Beaulieu (Juliet) and Mathieu Myrick (Romeo) were magical in their scenes together. The balcony scene was a highlight with Romeo, hanging on for dear life from the balcony, whilst Juliet, unfazed, expresses her love for him. They worked off of each other to create many hilarious physical comedy moments. Meri Stypinski (Lady Capulet) and Amie Lytle (Nurse) made for an incredibly funny duo and had many quips and adlibs that made the audience roar with laughter. Jade Ziane (Mercutio) and Sonny Lira (Friar Lawrence) were standouts from the second they came onstage. Their performances had the true marks of showmanship and charisma you’d want from their characters. Finally, Joshua Olumide (Benvolio) feels like the grounded heartbeat of the show in many ways, as a witness for Mercutio, Tybalt, and Romeo’s deaths. We bear witness to his silent, wounded grief which is truly devastating to watch.
The Hanover’s Romeo + Juliet is a journey of love and heartbreak, but this production asks the audience to enjoy the journey despite the tragic ending that lies ahead. It asks us to live in the moment. The laughter, joy, and comedic chemistry in this production is undeniable and a lovely way to spend an evening in downtown Worcester.
