World premiere: Théâtre Lyrique, Paris, 1867. Perhaps the most enduringly successful of the many operatic settings of the world’s consummate love story, Roméo et Juliette is an excellent example of French Romanticism, a tradition that values subtlety, sensuality, and graceful vocal delivery over showy effects In the opera there is a slight shift of focus away from the word games of the original play and a greater focus on the two lovers, who are given four irresistible duets, including a brief final reunion in the tomb scene that does not appear in the play
PROLOGUE
Verona, 18th century. A chorus tells of the endless feud between the Montague and Capulet families, and of the love of their children, Roméo and Juliette.
ACT I
At a masked ball in the courtyard of the Capulet palace, Juliette’s cousin Tybalt assures Count Pâris that Juliette, who has been promised to him, will enchant him. Capulet presents his daughter to the guests and invites them to dance. Mercutio and Roméo, a Montague, have donned masks to sneak into the ball, together with other friends. Roméo tells them about a strange dream he has had, but Mercutio dismisses it as the work of the fairy Queen Mab. Roméo watches Juliette dance and instantly falls in love with her. Juliette explains to her nurse, Gertrude, that she has no interest in marriage, but when Roméo approaches her in a quiet moment, both feel that they are meant for each other. Just as they discover each other’s identities, Tybalt happens upon them and recognizes Roméo. Capulet prevents him from attacking Roméo, who, with his friends, beats a hasty retreat.
ACT II
Later that night, Roméo enters the Capulets’ garden, looking for Juliette. When she steps out onto her balcony, he declares his love. Servants briefly interrupt their encounter. When they are alone once again, Juliette assures Roméo that she will be his forever.
ACT III
Roméo visits Frère Laurent in his cell and confesses his love for Juliette. Shortly thereafter, she also appears with Gertrude. Hoping that their love might reconcile their families, Frère Laurent marries them.
Outside the Capulet palace, Roméo’s page, Stéphano, sings a song about a turtledove imprisoned in a nest of vultures. This angers several of the Capulets. Mercutio comes to Stéphano’s aid, but soon Tybalt challenges him to fight. Roméo steps between them and asks Tybalt to forget about the hatred between their families. Tybalt has nothing but scorn for him, and when he kills Mercutio in their duel, Roméo stabs Tybalt to death. The Duke of Verona appears and, after partisans of both families demand justice, exiles Roméo.
ACT IV
Roméo and Juliette have spent their secret wedding night in her room. She forgives him for killing Tybalt. The newlyweds passionately declare their love as day is dawning. They can hardly bring themselves to say goodbye. After Roméo has left, Capulet appears, together with Frère Laurent, and announces to his daughter that she is to marry Pâris that same day. Desperate, Juliette turns to Frère Laurent, who gives her a potion that will make her appear to be dead. He promises that she will awaken with Roméo beside her. Love lends Juliette courage: She overcomes her fear and drinks the poison. On the way to the chapel where her wedding to Pâris is to take place, Juliette collapses. To the guests’ horror, Capulet announces that she is dead.
ACT V
Roméo arrives at the Capulets’ crypt. Discovering Juliette’s body, he believes her to be dead and drinks poison. At that moment, she awakens, and the lovers share a final dream of a future together. As Roméo grows weaker, Juliette takes a dagger from his belt and stabs herself. The lovers die praying for God’s forgiveness.
SETTING
In Shakespeare’s lifetime, Italy was a land of many small city-states in constant warfare with one another, but this same country was also the cradle of the Renaissance, with its astounding explosion of art and science. The image invoked by the story’s setting in the ancient city of Verona, then, is a beautiful but dangerous world where poetry or violence might erupt at any moment. The Met’s new production moves the action to the 18th century.
MUSIC
Gounod infuses this classic drama with an elegant musical aura that reflects the soaring poetry of the original. When the composer explores the darker and more violent side of the story, his music creates drama without resorting to bombast. A reserved melancholy creates all the necessary tension. For the story’s more lighthearted moments, Gounod supplied the sort of buoyant melodies that made his Faust a huge hit with audiences. Midway through Act I, the heroine takes the stage with the giddy coloratura gem “Je veux vivre dans ce rêve.” Moments such as these add musical and dramatic texture to the tragedy, admired for its contrast of light and dark.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
King’s Theatre is honoured to be on the ancestral and unceded territory of L’nu, also known as the Mi’kmaq Peoples, who have lived and cared for this land since time immemorial. We honour the Peace and Friendship Treaties and acknowledge that we are all treaty people.
The Fog Machine may be in use tonight. It is a non-toxic water-based mist
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COMING SOON 2025
FRIDAY SEP 26 7:00 PM th
PM
WEDNESDAY
FRIDAY, OCT 3rd 7:30 PM
SUNDAY OCT 5 6:00 PM th
OCT 10th 7:00 PM
FRIDAY OCT 24 7:00 PM th
SUNDAY OCT 26 3:00 PM th
SATURDAY NOV 1st 7:30 PM
SUNDAY
NOV 2nd
3:00 PM
KING’STHEATRE
Built in 1921, King’s Theatre has been at the heart of Annapolis Royal’s cultural community for 100 years. It is a favoured venue for performers, known for its enthusiastic audiences, intimate setting, high quality production values, and warm reception from the community.
King’s Theatre also supports emerging talent. Fostering a close relationships with the schools and the amateur drama community, there are many opportunities for talent in all genres to learn the ropes.
King’s Theatre has also served as a movie house for 100 years, transitioning from reel-to-reel to digital projection and surround sound, with programming that ranges from Indie to Hollywood, to work by filmmakers who call Annapolis home.
Staff & Board
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tracy Summerville, Chair
Margo Tait, Vice Chair
Kerrie Picken, Treasurer
Shannon Kelly, Secretary
Betsy Akin
Thea Boyanowsky
Caroline Hancock
Garth Laidlaw
Thomas May
AC Silver
Alison Warwick
Michael Westcott
STAFF
Janet Larkman, Executive Director
Tracey Harnish, Bookkeeper
Jessica Scott, Box Office & Operations Manager
Devin Fraser, Technical Director
Gregory Muszkie, House Manager
Jamie Alcorn, Sound Technican
Brynja Bachem-Jennings, Box Office and House Support
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