The new take on the classic tragedy makes a glorious North American premiere.
There are certain rituals by which Angelenos can mark the passing of time in our season-less landscape.
Tybalt (Adam Galbraith) is now a guard who sexually abuses Juliet (Monique Jonas).

Monique Jonas and Rory Macleod.Johan Persson
Often, the Bards plays are shoehorned into a new time and place with little regard for coherent dramaturgy.
And it makes their potent use of stage blood all the more horrifying.
Shakespeare himself, inAs You Like It,called love merely a madness.

Paris Fitzpatrick (center) and the cast of ‘Romeo + Juliet’.Johan Persson
In Bournes production, love is both salvation and destruction.

Monique Jonas.Johan Persson