In its tragic finale, Romeo and Juliet is interrupted by a cat
Victor Mather
There’s a rule about live performance that even a five-year-old playing Beth Little Women He knows: Once you die on stage, you don’t move. Don’t scratch the itch; sneeze. Do absolutely nothing.
Last week in Türkiye, the skills of a ballet dancer whose ballet character ended were put to the serious test when a ginger cat wandered on stage during a ballet performance. Romeo and Juliet Prokofiev’s ballet.
In Act 3 of the Shakespeare play on which the ballet is based, Romeo says: “Heaven is where Juliet lives. And every cat and dog and little mouse, every worthless thing, lives here in heaven and can take care of her.” Perhaps this is the moment when an innovative production can reveal a carefully discussed cat.
Unfortunately, the cat’s appearance at Wednesday’s performance came at a much worse time.
Romeo had just died after taking poison in the mistaken belief that his beloved Juliet was dead. The dancer playing Romeo had finished his performance for the evening. He just had to play dead and think about his post-theatre drink.
The cat had other ideas.
In a video published by Reuters, the cat initially sits calmly next to Romeo. He then starts biting and scratching his head. Romeo does not back down with superhuman composure.
Juliet then pulls off what seems like an inspired improvisation. He drags Romeo away from the cat by his legs, a move rarely seen in traditional productions of the tragic finale. He then continues his mourning.
The cat appears to consider its options, then jumps onto a table and no further intervention is recorded.
Shakespeare mentioned or referenced cats dozens of times in his plays. This wasn’t supposed to be one of them.
And here, by the time-honored traditions of journalism, we are forced to make one or more absolutely terrible puns or puns combining felines and Shakespeare.
Ready?
It is unknown whether the cat will return for its comeback engagement, as the ballet company and theater officials who brought the show to Izmir did not respond to questions about the incident.
maybe in Winter’s Tail, Mouse for Mouse, Two Noble Kittens or one of the hissing games.
Ah. You must be a kitten for me. It was just a claw movement.
This article was first published on: New York Times.
