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Show The Summerbird July 2, 1990 Page 3 Festival opens with Romeo and Juliet The Utah Shakespearean Festival opens its July 2, with the premiere performance of Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet 1990 season tonight, in the open-ai- r Adams Shakespearean Theatre. Each of the remaining days of the week will open another production for a total of six plays in six nights, the most ambitious opening week ever for the Festival. Romeo and Juliet, the tragedy of d lovers, returns for its third festival season. Romeo, a young nobleman, falls hopelessly in love at first sight with Juliet, the daughter of his familys bitterest enemy. The attempt of the young couple to fulfill their love leads them to Friar Laurence, who hopes to heal the rift between the two families by marrying the young couple. A street fight seals the inevitability of their tragedy. Andrei Hartt portrays Romeo while Juliet is played by Melanie van Betten of Las Vegas. Equity actor LeWan Alexander, last seen at the Festival in the title role of the 1988 production of Othello, plays Mercutio, Romeos good friend. Tuesdays opening performance is Titus Andronicus, an early Shakespeare tragedy in its first production at the Festival. Equity actors Ken Ruta and Megan Cole star as the Roman general Titus and his Gothic adversary, Tamora. Alexander portrays Aaron the Moor, Tamoras lover and avenger. Van Betten appears as Tituss daughter Lavinia, the most pitiful victim of Tamoras revenge. The Two Gentlemen oj Verona rounds out the Shakespearean trio. In its fourth production at the Festival, the play concerns the importance of friendship and true love to two young men savoring their first experiences away from parental guidance and to the young women they woo. Marvin Greene portrays the fickle star-cross- hK r. Proteus while Dennis Ryan plays Valentine, the other Gentleman of Verona. Twyla Hafermann is the wronged Julia, and Patricia Jones is Silvia. Premieres continue throughout the week at the Randall L. Jones Theatre with three classics of world drama. Henrik Ibsens Ghosts opens Thursday, July 5, under the direction of Victor Pappas. Major roles are filled by Cole Michael as Mrs. Alving; Salt Lake City-base- d Jesse Bennett as Pastor Manders; and Lawrence Lott as Engstrand. Benjamin Livingston plays Oswald, the victim of his fathers excesses, with Twyla Hafermann as his unfortunate love interest. Samuel Becketts Waiting Jbr Godot opens Friday evening, July 6. Tom Markus has directed a rollicking comic interpretation, with Equity actors John Tillotson and Lott cavorting as two tramps entertaining themselves while waiting at a crossroads. U. Pozzo; Jonathon Toppo plays the slave-drivPrice Waldman is his servant Lucky; and Justin Jayson Wheeler, a Cedar City high school student, fills the role of the Boy. The sixth and final premiere of the week is The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wildes delightful comedy of inflated Edwardian manners, directed by Malcolm Morrison. Morrisons production features David Macdonald as Jack and Livingston as Algernon, both of whom would rather be Ernest, Jacks phantom brother. Gwendolen and Cecily, both young women who wish to marry a man named Ernest, are played, respectively, by Carole Maffin and van Betten. The formidable Lady Bracknell is portrayed by Guest Artist Elizabeth Terry. For ticket information, phone er 586-787- 33sft tts-isw-ai asm 8. mnr-- smiwfe '?, 'll plays Launce and Mandy Tyner is his dog Crab in Shakespeares delightful comedy 'The Two Gentlemen of Verona, playing twice weekly in the Adams Outdoor Thetare through Sept. 1. Ty Smith $. iiit-- worn mmrmit 'fnt&ww tmaw bwvmi ago iVnmafr sm Moa to 'usbsgqB iyiMfeik -- QjimaiD ssrasii no 855X3 (KfUv taiuifc ihp mt flit ififitYsmunw! ijHUi iluB |