When I first saw Franco Zeffirelli's 1968's adaption of
Romeo and Juliet, I was 15. It quickly became one of my favorite films not only because of the gorgeous actor who played Romeo, but because of the story itself. The tale of forbidden and tragic, young love could melt anyone's heart, as it did mine-- I shamelessly cried when the movie came to it's heart wrenching denoument. This was my first experience with a Shakespearean play and acted like a gateway drug, if you will, to my Shakespeare addiction . I thankfully have an uncle who shares my thespian interests and who works for the LA Met. He took me and our families down to the Shakespeare festival in Cedar City, Utah soon after I discovered Shakespeare. There I saw my first actual Shakespearean play in the city's version of the Globe Theatre, replete with renaissance garb and delightful tarts (which are, besides the plays, by far my favorite thing about the festival). My love of Shakespeare's plays has continued to this day, thanks to Zeffirelli's
Romeo and Juliet and my fellow Shakespeare-loving uncle.
