It's No Tragedy
The latest version of 'Romeo and Juliet' is full of music that is excellently done
By Shari Kaplan
When a stage production combines two such powerful, universal themes as music and love, it's hard to go wrong. And that's just what the powers behind San Jose's newest professional theatrical company, Theatre on San Pedro Square, hope will be the case with Romeo and Juliet--A Most Excellent Tragedy.
This original musical adaptation of William Shakespeare's classic tragedy Romeo and Juliet premiered on June 21, and is scheduled to run through July 23. Created by Saratogan Gary De Mattei and Los Gatan Michael Smythe, Theatre on San Pedro Square is the result of a year of much brainstorming, organizing and renovating.
A San Jose native and veteran director and actor of 20 years in California plays and musicals, De Mattei says he'd been thinking for a while about getting a new theatrical project under way. He also had his eye on the downtown San Jose venue that housed the Last Laugh comedy club and, more recently, the long-running comedy Tony and Tina's Wedding.
Photograph by Kathy De La Torre
Former Los Gatan Tony Panighetti, center, gets ready in the basement makeup room with the other actors.
While working out at Los Gatos' Courtside Club a little over a year ago, De Mattei found himself on a treadmill alongside Smythe; the men had known each other for quite some time, but hadn't seen each other in a while. Smythe had recently sold the family business of Smythe European Motors and, although he enjoyed spending more time with his wife and children, he was also looking for something new to do.
"Whatever it was, I knew I wanted to do something fun and creative," he recalls. When Smythe told De Mattei of his creative wanderlust, the latter replied, "I have an idea!" When De Mattei put the theatrical bug in Smythe's ear, Smythe says he was intrigued but also wary--at least initially.
"Gary and I must have met for coffee 40 times at 40 different coffeeshops all over the area, spending hours talking about things. Gary shared with me his idea, concept and his vision," Smythe says, chuckling. "We were so much on the same page, it was scary!"
"The coffeehouses became our 'office,' " adds De Mattei. He says the pair engaged in much soul-searching, number-crunching and business-planning before making concrete plans to revamp the San Jose theater and put on a production.
"I loved the space; my eyes lit up," Smythe recalls of his first impression of the old building. "I told Gary, 'It's got great bones, but it needs renovation."
Photograph by Kathy De La Torre
Dennis O'Brien plays Tybalt, and Shawna Darling is Rosalind in the musical version of 'Romeo and Juliet.'
Their eight- to nine-month renovation project resulted in the 199-seat Theatre on San Pedro Square. It created an intimate architectural environment versatile enough to have a thrust stage, a proscenium stage or a stage for theater-in-the-round. Along with state-of-the-art technical sound and lighting facilities, the theater also stocks a full bar and "upscale snacks," such as desserts from downtown San Jose's A.P. Stump's restaurant. Patrons will be free to carry their libations to their seats to enjoy during the performance, according to Smythe.
"We wanted to take away any of the 'stiffness' that may be associated with theater and create a fun, relaxed atmosphere for people to enjoy the theater," Smythe says, adding that he would call Theatre on San Pedro Square "after-dinner theater."
Photograph by Kathy De La Torre
Just before the show begins, producer-director Gary De Mattei of Saratoga takes a quiet moment for himself outside the entrance to Theatre on San Pedro Square.
Romeo & Juliet--A Most Excellent Tragedy is brought to life by a bright young cast of actors, all of whom have performed in many West Coast theatrical productions. Some are members of the Actors' Equity guild, while others are nonprofessionals who simply love acting.
Former Los Gatan and Los Gatos High School graduate Tony Panighetti can be seen gracing the stage as the romantic Romeo. A graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where he later performed, Panighetti has also acted in three Shakespearean plays with the Pasadena Shakespeare Company and premiered his own play, titled The Noise, with downtown Hollywood's Non-Prophet Hatching Company. By day, he is a children's acting teacher.
Other actors in leading roles include Eve Cohen as Juliet, Dennis O'Brien as Tybalt, Brian Herndon as Benvolio, Mickey Killianey as Mercutio and Prince Escalus, James Monroe Iglehart as Friar Laurence and Shanon Orrock as the Nurse.
Photograph by Kathy De La Torre
Together with executive producer Michael Smythe of Los Gatos (not pictured), director Gary De Mattei, musical director Ed Goldfarb and resident designer Lisa Pontier De Mattei are the 'big four' responsible for putting together the show.
For the production, approximately 75 to 80 percent of Shakespeare's text has been set to music. The eclectic, original score was written by recording artist and theater musical director Ed Goldfarb, a former West Valley resident now living in Corte Madera.
Goldfarb, who holds a degree in music from UC-Berkeley, says he was glad to give Theatre on San Pedro Square a hand. He's known and admired De Mattei for several decades, ever since he was a teenager. He had worked with De Mattei during a San Jose Children's Musical Theatre production of the whimsical Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Creating the musical score for Romeo and Juliet--A Most Excellent Tragedy didn't take as long as people may think, he says.
"If the inspiration is there, the inspiration is there. Especially when I'm working with words, it doesn't take too long," he explains. "The tough part is taking what I hear in my head and putting it down on paper so people can sing it and the band can play it. I feel sort of like I've been collaborating with Shakespeare on this," he adds with a chuckle.
Photograph by Kathy De La Torre
Los Gatos High School alumnus Tony Panighetti plays Romeo Montague in Theatre on San Pedro Square's premiere performance, 'Romeo and Juliet--A Most Excellent Tragedy.'
Smythe acknowledges that setting the Bard's classic to music is a novel and somewhat chancy concept, but so was building the theater in the first place. And he and De Mattei are nothing if not optimistic.
"The whole idea behind this [endeavor] was, 'Let's take chances," Smythe says.
"If you're a Shakespeare lover, you'll like this. If you're a contemporary musical theater lover, you'll like this," De Mattei asserts.
Along with Goldfarb's score, which totals 39 numbers, the production also has another creative local touch. The characters' costumery is designed by De Mattei's wife, Lisa Pontier De Mattei, who holds a bachelor's degree in fashion design. The wardrobe has what she calls an "eclectic collection" of garb taken from many periods and styles, ranging from fairytale to modern.
"It's based more on the character than on the period," says Pontier De Mattei, who has also outfitted San Jose's Margaret Wingrove modern dance company and does work in interior and architectural design.
The wistful Juliet Capulet, played by Even Cohen, professes her desire for actor Tony Panighetti's Romeo, not realizing he is listening just below her balcony.
Photograph by Kathy De La Torre
With the publicity garnered from its premier performance of the star-crossed lovers' tale of woe, Theatre on San Pedro Square will leap into an ambitious performance season. Smythe, De Mattei and crew are already projecting their future together:
"It's my intention to present great theater in its many different forms: drama, musical theater, opera and even dance, staged in innovative productions that are fresh and provocative," De Mattei says. "Our full season of eight different productions will begin in September and should be appealing to the entire Silicon Valley community."
The weekly performance schedule for 'Romeo and Juliet--A Most Excellent Tragedy' is Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25, $35 and $40. For ticket information, call 408.283.0200 or visit www.tickets.com on the Internet. For more information about Theatre on San Pedro Square, call 408.283.0200.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
Los Gatos High School alumnus Tony Panighetti plays Romeo Montague in Theatre on San Pedro Square's premiere performance: 'Romeo & Juliet--A Most Excellent Tragedy.'
