By Eva Trieger
SAN DIEGO — What a perfect play to kick off summer! The Roustabouts, San Diego’s newest and most adventurous theater company, celebrates Season 2 with a charming show that honors the Bard and modern audiences. “Romeo, Romeo and Juliet” tracks the lives of two summer stock theater actors and their director, revealing the intricacies of relationships and characters along the way.
This world premiere, written by Ruff Yeager, cofounder of the troupe, and directed by Kim Strassburger, entertains and educates the audience on what goes on behind the scenes when actors take on roles in a summer stock production. Some actors are seasoned, and others, well, rubes from Utah. As explained by the play-within-a-play’s director, Brian Mackey, most recently seen in Lamb’s Theater’s hilarious Noises Off, rehearsal time is very short and the actors must work hard. Tracy (Michael Silberblatt) as Romeo, is well prepared and ready to perform, but initially is wary of his Juliet (Michelle Marie Trester) a Mormon who has led a very insular life. Her character has last played Laurie in Oklahoma, but the actress was last seen in Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery.
As the play unfolds, the actors develop an intimacy and an awareness, and, with the support of their director, grow into their respective roles until a fateful moment when passion overtakes the three of them. This phenomenon creates a tension that permanently alters the rehearsal space.
What this company does so well, is inspect the human soul with honesty, integrity and compassion. The Roustabouts never miss an opportunity to find out what it is that makes us tick, really, not just in a superficial way, but far below the surface. The playwrights and actors reveal to us our innermost secrets, fears, desires and dreams. This gift is encoded into each of their shows, and Romeo, Romeo and Juliet is no exception. Get your tickets now. The show will be at the Moxie Theater until July 8th, 2018.
The Roustabouts, founded by Will Cooper, Phil Johnson and Ruff Yeager, will bring us a reading series including Sister Mary Ignatius Explains it All For You, Real Women Have Curves, and Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge. These readings will complement their season which featured A Jewish Joke and Anyone Can Whistle. Johnson, who co-wrote A Jewish Joke with Marni Freedman, will be taking that show to New York later this year.
In addition to mainstage productions and the above mentioned readings, the Roustabouts are hosting a solo show contest. The event takes place June 26 and 27th and will showcase the works of author KM McNeel, Todd Blakesley, Suzana Norberg and Mashid Hager.
This review is incomplete without making mention of the incredible staff. Most of the attention is focused on the stage itself, but all of the folks behind the stage make this company soar. Kudos go to Stage Manager, Charmaine Reed, Production Assistant, Siri Elana, Title Sponsor, Alan Campbell, Light Design, Curtis Mueller, and Costume Designer, Jordyn Smiley. My personal thanks go to Sher Krieger, who is the point of contact person and I believe may just be the linchpin, sending out pertinent emails.
Subscriptions may be purchased at theroustabouts.org or by phone at 619.728.7820. San Diego boasts many theaters and each has a niche. The Roustabouts deserves attention and support because it creates its own unique habitat, and brings fresh and gifted talent to our stages. Each production and every performance is provocative and filled with daring and wisdom.
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Trieger is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts. She may be contacted via eva.trieger@sdjewishworld.com
I’m so glad one of us covered this since I had to bow out.