Montague – Blogging Shakespeare & Theatre

What’s new with the ESM Players?

2020 started with lots of colour! In October we announced that we’d channel the two “households both alike in dignity” into two teams: Team Red and Team Blue. And so it has begun: Team Red, the House of Montague; Team Blue, the House of Capulet; and those not clearly aligned with one of the house, constitute Team Black. As we decided to set the play’s background into modern times, we were looking for these three colours that could be visibly worn by all actors. Last week our costumes team handed out some essential items for all actors — highlighting the colour theme of and, of course, adding some bling! So here is the cast, donning their red, blue and black bandanas.

And because bandanas go really well with a bit of bling bling, we weren’t hesitant in adding some jewellery. Here’s a first glimpse of County Paris, sporting his fashionable look. Clearly, all this bling bling convinced Old Capulet that Paris is just the right husband for Juliet.

Since Verona is ruled by a Prince whose loyalties are torn between the two families, we wanted to combine this twist into his costume thus showing off both Team Blue and Team Red.

To add some more sparkle, the mask ball that seals the fates for Romeo and Juliet will also feature some shiny items.

Our tech and props team was working very hard on some cool belt buckles, have a look — isn’t is amazing what one can do with 3D printers?

And what would be more bling than an opulent belt buckle with your initial on it? Correct. This is where our tech experts when to work and designed some Capulet and Montague belt buckles for the actors.

Juliet and Lady Capulet surely fell in love with their bandanas. We think that they look gorgeous in it.

Finally, Benvolio and Mercutio throw in their summary of the play — it fiteth well, we think. Although they seem to have a wee bit too much fun with it… someone needs to remind them that R&J is a tragedy… 😉

Stay tuned for the next update when we introduce our creative team and their plans for the poster design.

This was our last rehearsal week before premiere. It meant pulling everything together, polishing the last few rough segments, being quicker for entrances and exits, being snappier and line biting. And it hath been done. Ten weeks of a Shakespeare journey are about to come to and end and find its culmination in eight performances (should the weather gods be with us — we really would like to break the spell of the six performances!).

And thus it is time to introduce the two households, much alike in dignity. Men in tights, ladies in long (often long-sleeved) dresses — you can imagine how this feels in 40 °C. Hot. We think they also look hot. In a good way. As a matter of fact, in a fabulous way.

So let us start with the Capulets.

The Capulets – Team Red — Photo: Dora Lutz

(From left to right, top to bottom: John, Jennifer, Helen, Tai, Sophie, Helena and Shreyas)

John (Capulet) has been with Entity for over 20 years. He has played various roles, from Him personally to being killed by an ungrateful stepson last year (he played Claudius in Hamlet). This year he repeats the father role, hoping not to be killed this time.

Jennifer (Lady Capulet) also has been with Entity from the very beginning and has filled almost all positions in Entity at one time or another. This will be her fourth Shakespeare production.

Maria (Juliet) pursues Japanese Studies and has come to Entity through this year’s workshops. It is her first production with the team.

Helen (Nurse) is of Irish and German descent. She joined Entity in 2016 and has played various roles. This year she is excited being in the midst of feuds, fights and love. (And yes, together with Friar Laurence, she pretty much is responsible for the love complications in this play.)

Tai (Tybalt) is back in his fourth Shakespeare production. Being stabbed behind the arras last year as Polonius with the ominous line “Oh, I am slain”, he gets to do some stabbing this year. Without ominous lines. When not on stage, he works in advertisement where you are strongly discouraged from stabbing anyone, except in the back.

Sophie (Sampson) is half French and half German and previously appeared with the ESM Players. This year she has tgd pleasure of biting her thumb at the Montagues.

Helena (Gregory) is originally from Finland and moved to Munich in 2019. This is her first Entity production. She also bites her thumb at the Montagues. Until someone gets hurt. Oh well.

Shreyas (Peter) is from India and this is his first experience with theatre. We think, he is doing a great job!

And thus, let us turn to the House of Montague.

The Montagues – Team Blue — Photo: Conny Loder

(From left to right, top to bottom: David, Claire, Megan, Susan, Luiza)

David (Montague) is from Oregon and was bitten by the acting bug in 2006 when he played a soldier in the Wyrd Sisters. The rest is history.

Claire (Lady Montague) is from Australia. She joined Entity in 2016 and loves to be creative, offstage as well as onstage. (She is our costume designer — and we are in love with our costumes.)

Sara (Romeo) is from the USA and has appeared in numerous Shakespeare productions with Entity, playing Rosalind, Lady Olivia and Rosencrantz. She also is thrilled to bring her swordplay skills to the Entity stage. (Our sword fights are AMAZING.)

Megan (Benvolio) has played several roles, among them, Lady Macbeth. This is Megan’s first Entity production.

Susan (Abram) is of Irish descent. She has been a member of Entity for several years. She is excited to be doing some stage combat for the first time.

Luiza (Balthasar) is from Brazil and studied Drama and Literature. She has filled many theatre positions and in her free time, she enjoys writing lyrics and rapping.