Denver’s Shakespearian Theater Troupe has recently staged a new adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, the classic tale of star-crossed lovers and family feuds. However, instead of delivering a poignant and passionate drama, the production turned out to be a hilarious and disastrous comedy, full of blunders and bloopers that would make the Bard himself roll in his grave.

The problems started from the very beginning, when the prologue was recited by a nervous and stuttering actor who forgot half of his lines and had to improvise with some modern slang. The audience was confused and amused by his awkward performance, which set the tone for the rest of the show.

The cast seemed to have little or no understanding of the language and the plot of the play, as they mispronounced words, skipped scenes, and changed characters at random. For example, the role of Mercutio was played by three different actors, who switched places whenever they felt like it. The role of Tybalt was played by a woman, who wore a fake beard and a sword that kept falling off. The role of Friar Laurence was played by a man who spoke with a thick Irish accent and made references to leprechauns and Guinness.

The most glaring mistake, however, was the casting of Romeo and Juliet themselves. The actors who played them had no chemistry whatsoever, and seemed to despise each other on stage. They delivered their lines with monotone voices and bored expressions, and avoided any physical contact as much as possible. Their balcony scene was a disaster, as Juliet kept dropping her flowers on Romeo’s head, and Romeo tripped over his own feet while climbing up the ladder. Their kissing scene was even worse, as they barely touched their lips and made gagging noises afterwards.

The final act was the climax of the comedy, as the actors tried to enact the tragic deaths of the lovers. Romeo arrived at the tomb where Juliet lay, apparently dead from a potion. He took out a dagger and stabbed himself in the chest, but instead of falling down gracefully, he screamed in pain and ran off the stage, leaving behind a trail of fake blood. Juliet then woke up and saw Romeo’s body gone. She looked around confusedly, until she spotted a gun lying on the floor. She picked it up and pointed it at her head, but before she could pull the trigger, the gun exploded in her hand, causing her to drop it and shriek. The audience burst into laughter, as the curtain fell down abruptly.

The director of the production later apologized for the fiasco, blaming it on a lack of rehearsal time, faulty props, and inexperienced actors. He said he hoped to improve the quality of the show in future performances, but admitted that it might be better to switch to a different play altogether.