Romeo and Juliet in Hell

Reviewed by Dana Martin
Force of Nature Productions 
Through November 23

Playwright/director Matt Ritchey wonders what happens in literary hell, the Bard’s abyss where all of Shakespeare’s dead heroes reside, condemned to eternal damnation by way of off-key Sondheim. Romeo and Juliet in Hell is a fast moving, lighthearted hour of odd encounters that are filled to the brim with theater jokes.

Newlyweds Romeo (Colton Butcher) and Juliet (Lauren Diaz) may have just arrived in hell but they’re still totally in love. Crossing over hasn’t quelled the duo’s raging hormones and the pair paw at each other every chance they get. But the unusual teenage honeymoon is soon cut short when they encounter former foes, current best buds Tybalt (Carlos Chavez) and Mercutio (Nick Ley) who inform the lovers of their tragic fate: eternal damnation (and contractual obligation) to listen to Tony (J. Elijah Cho) from West Side Story sing “Maria.” Forever.

Savvy Juliet spots a contract clause which takes the dead duo on a journey through their own short-lived love story told by a motley crew of the Bard’s best dead: a clueless Hamlet (Mikael Mattison), a very Scottish Macbeth (Graydon Schlichter), a wild-eyed and perpetually shouting Lady M (Therese Olson), a luscious Desdemona (Chloe Zubiri), and a still suspicious Othello the Moor (Brenton Sullivan). Storylines are cleverly confused and the famous couple’s relationship goes up in flames.

The actors play with enthusiasm and understand the piece’s comedic style. No one overcomplicates the jokes or the action, which is zany enough as is. Lauren Diaz finds an exuberant Juliet who moves between young love and jealousy. Colton Butcher’s Romeo is a lovable, doe-eyed dummy. Therese Olson’s Lady Macbeth is outlandish and amusing. Nick Ley’s Mercutio is silly and a great fit for Carlos Chavez’s over-the-top Tybalt. Jennifer Novak Chun enacts a less-than-confident rendition of “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” which sets an awkward tone.

Playwright/director Matt Ritchey finds a steadily paced 60 minutes of clever stupidity and never pushes the action or tempo to extremes. (One caveat: He trusts that the audience will catch the many inside theatre jokes — which is great for the theatre geeks, but significantly less amusing for those with little knowledge of the Bard.)

Set design by Jerry Chappell gives the space a cartoonish feeling. Costume design by Gail Murray, Leanne Hall and Melissa Munoz is on-the-nose. Light design by Sebastian Munoz is minimalistic.

Originally produced at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, Romeo and Juliet in Hell retains its structural simplicity and driven energy, both of which serve its current incarnation. It’s a fun, fast-paced screwball comedy reserved for Bill’s most famous dead heroes.

Actors Workout Studio, 4735 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood; Fri.-Sat., 8:30 p.m.; through Nov. 23. fonprods.tix.com. Running time: 65 minutes with no intermission.