The story of Romeo and Juliet is one of the most famous Shakespearean tragedies. Known worldwide, this timeless tale is a story of the deep-rooted rivalry between the Capulets and the Montagues, the love story between their children Romeo and Juliet, and the characters' premature deaths because of their star-crossed love. Clara Kundin, an assistant professor of theatre, is reimagining this iconic play by blending two worlds.
Kundin has modernized her production of Romeo and Juliet by placing the characters in contemporary New Mexico during the election season. "I was thinking about what is relevant about doing Shakespeare, not just today, but for this particular community," she said. Kundin focuses the story on the tensions that arise between people, not just in Portales but all around the U.S. These tensions manifest socially, mirroring the friction between the two families revealed throughout the play.
Donovan Bradfute, a senior at ENMU playing Benvolio, feels that even though the setting has changed, the meaning of the words has stayed the same. "I feel like Shakespeare can be a little inaccessible to some people, so putting it in the modern setting, I think it brings the same meaning to life in the modern context," he said. Bradfute, who is from Portales, has had to transport himself into the world of Romeo and Juliet, while also transforming his character to fit the mold of current-day New Mexico.
"Conflict is a tale as old as time, and my hope is that by setting it in present day we reveal something new about ourselves," Kundin said. Taking a more modern look at the core story of the play and dropping the characters into a new setting where audiences can relate to the story more clearly, Kundin is hoping to make Shakespeare feel more relevant. "There is often this idea that Shakespeare is too fancy or hard to understand, but I think the reason it gets produced so much is not to be snobby, but because the stories are good," she said. Kundin hopes that the audiences and the students themselves can start to understand the relevance of why Shakespeare is still studied in schools. "There is something really lasting about his works," she said.
While transforming the play's setting to New Mexico, Kundin has also transported herself into the culture of the state. Kundin has lived in Portales, NM, since July and conducted research on living in a smaller town. Her research included deepening her understanding of the social and political makeup of not only the town, but all of New Mexico. "It's a different community," Kundin said. "I am really enjoying my time here." She has had the help of her students and other faculty members to ensure that the story and situations feel accurate to the state and the students at ENMU.
"I'm still learning the school culture, the community culture, but as far as shows go, I've got a good one," she said. Kundin is from Kansas and previously worked in both New York and Paris. Kundin is no stranger to bringing a story to life on stage. Her experience and training in theatre production, acting, teaching, and directing provide her with a robust collection of skills to deliver a quality production to her audiences. Transitioning to a small town like Portales contrasts with the world she was used to. Learning about the local community, culture, and the way ENMU's theater department functions has been a new experience for her. Understanding her cast and listening to her crew has also helped her learn throughout the process of the production. Carley Holland, an ENMU sophomore originally from Los Alamos, is set to play Juliet in the upcoming production. "[Kundin] takes a lot of our suggestions," Holland said. "She is very knowledgeable in the subject which makes it a lot easier."
The ENMU Theatre Department will perform their Romeo and Juliet production from November 14-November 17. For more information about tickets and showings, visit the ENMU Theatre Ludus webpage.
