SOURCE: Gates, Anita. Review of Romeo and Juliet. New York Times (23 June 2001): B7, B14.

In the following review of Rob Barron's abridged 2001 stage adaptation of Romeo and Juliet at the Lucille Lortel Theater in New York City, Gates highlights the production's potential appeal to younger audiences.

Benvolio wears camouflage pants, with one leg rolled up to his knee. The Capulets' illiterate male servant constantly listens to his Walkman. The Prince wears a headset. The young people of Verona act out basketball moves, whoop their hellos and practice their martial arts moves. A lot of hip-hop is happening in Theaterworks/U.S.A.'s well-acted, throbbingly high-energy production of Romeo and Juliet at the Lucille Lortel Theater. And when Juliet is told that Paris (a loser who, like the grown-ups, wears suits) wants to marry her, Juliet throws up.

None of this should come as much of a surprise...