[On Stage] Is Shakespeare Romeo? A Love Story That Echoes Familiar Themes

Play "Shakespeare in Love"
"Romeo and Juliet" Overlap
Satire and Witty Ending Add to the Fun

Under the moonlight, a man confesses his love to a woman standing on a balcony. With an enraptured expression, she asks him for even sweeter vows.

Although it looks exactly like a scene from Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet," the man's name is not Romeo, but "Will Shakespeare," and the woman's name is not Juliet, but "Viola."

This is a scene from the play "Shakespeare in Love," currently being performed at the Opera Theater of the Seoul Arts Center. The production begins with the imaginative idea that the story of Romeo and Juliet might have originated from Shakespeare's own love affair.

Theater performance scene of "Shakespeare in Love"
Photo by Shonote

Theater performance scene of "Shakespeare in Love"
Photo by Shownote

The male protagonist, Will, is a playwright writing "Romeo and Juliet," while the female lead, Viola, is the daughter of a wealthy merchant who loves theater. Will and Viola fall in love, even though their love is impossible. Despite Viola already being engaged to a suitor chosen by her family, Will and Viola meet at a masquerade ball and fall in love at first sight.

Originating from this clever premise, the play maintains its wit and originality from start to finish. Not only "Romeo and Juliet," but also Shakespeare's other masterpieces such as "The Merchant of Venice," "The Taming of the Shrew," and "Twelfth Night" are skillfully woven into the story, drawing admiration. The writers' craftsmanship is truly impressive, and in fact, the original script for this work was written by one of the greatest living playwrights.

The play "Shakespeare in Love" is based on the 1998 film of the same name, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes. At the 71st Academy Awards in 1999, the film received the most nominations and wins, being nominated in 13 categories and winning in 7. Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard, who co-wrote the screenplay, also won the award for Best Original Screenplay. Norman wrote the initial draft, and Stoppard revised and refined it in collaboration.

Stoppard is always mentioned among the greatest playwrights of our time. Judging by his awards alone, he is worthy of being called the "Shakespeare of the modern era." Over a span of more than 50 years, Stoppard has won the Tony Award for Best Play five times, holding the record for the most wins in history. He first won the Tony Award in 1967 for "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead," followed by "Travesties" (1976), "The Real Thing" (1984), and "The Coast of Utopia" (2007), and in 2023, he won again for "Leopoldstadt."

He also holds the joint record for the most wins for Best New Play at the Laurence Olivier Awards, known as the British equivalent of the Tony Awards, with two awards. In addition, he has received the Evening Standard Award, the oldest theater award in the UK, a record six times.

Theater performance scene of "Shakespeare in Love"
Photo by Shownote

Theater performance scene of "Shakespeare in Love"
Photo by Shownote

The film "Shakespeare in Love" was adapted into a play in 2014 and had its world premiere in London's West End. The script for the play was written by British playwright Lee Hall, with Tom Stoppard's approval. Lee Hall is a playwright known for writing the film and musical scripts for "Billy Elliot."

The play's brilliant narrative is further enriched by scenes that satirize the absolute monarchy of the Elizabeth I era. At the time, it was both socially and religiously taboo for women to appear on stage. To pursue her dream of performing, Viola dons a mustache and disguises herself as a man to act. Ultimately, overcoming various conflicts, she appears on stage as her true self, delivering a satisfying conclusion.

The stage set, constructed entirely from solid wood to realistically recreate the fact that 16th-century London theaters were built from timber, adds an antique charm to the production.