The Public Theater’s Romeo & Juliet brought Free Shakespeare in the Park back to the Delacorte Theater with a visually rich production that mixed romance, music, movement and bilingual storytelling in Central Park.
Directed by Saheem Ali, the production stars Ra’Mya Latiah Aikens as Juliet and Daniel Bravo Hernández as Romeo. This version of Shakespeare’s tragedy mixes English and Spanish throughout the show, giving the story a bilingual texture that felt timely in a city where both languages are part of everyday life.
The bilingual approach gave the production a timely feeling, especially in a city where English and Spanish often live side by side. As someone who understands both languages, I enjoyed that choice, though I did wonder how much of it carried for audience members who do not speak Spanish. Still, the mix added warmth and texture to the world of the play.
The strongest parts of the production were visual. Oana Botez’s costume design and Maruti Evans’ scenic design gave the show a bold, colorful identity. Early in the performance, the masked dance where Romeo first meets Juliet became one of the night’s most beautiful sequences, with costumes, masks and movement filling the stage with energy.
The set also had some clever moments, including the staging of the balcony scene. When the stage opened and Juliet appeared above Romeo, it was not a jaw-dropping spectacle, but it was a smart theatrical touch that served the scene well.
The performances carried the evening. Aikens and Hernández brought warmth and chemistry to Shakespeare’s young lovers. Hernández’s Romeo was dramatic at times, but that also felt true to the character — a young man swept up in love, emotion and bad decisions.
Caleb Joshua Eberhardt made Mercutio one of the production’s great joys, bringing humor, charm and danger to the role. Deirdre O’Connell’s Nurse was another standout, giving the show some of its funniest and most memorable moments.
Not every modern touch landed the same way. Some of the political references, including anti-ICE imagery, felt more like added commentary than something fully woven into the production. The visual identity also seemed to pull from several cultural directions at once without always making those choices feel completely clear.
Even with those reservations, the overall experience was strong. The performances were engaging, the design was beautiful, and the atmosphere at the Delacorte reminded me how rare and important Free Shakespeare in the Park remains. Sitting in Central Park, watching a full-scale production of Romeo & Juliet for free, is one of those New York experiences that still feels special.
The Public Theater continues to offer something remarkable with Free Shakespeare in the Park: accessible, high-level theater open to the public. This Romeo & Juliet may not have been perfect, but it was alive with color, humor, music and feeling — and it made for a memorable night in the city.
A special thank you to The Public Theater for continuing to make Free Shakespeare in the Park available to New Yorkers and for keeping this kind of cultural experience open to the public.
Production photos by Joan Marcus.
