Matt Hurley and Melody Bates. Photo by Hunter Canning
Thanks to everyone who made Hard Sparks' production of Melody Bates' R & J & Z a great big bloody success! You have our eternal thanks and our undying love.
R & J & Z exceeds all expectations... Jubett and Bates have accomplished that rare satisfying balance of scary and funny... R & J & Z is a very entertaining show for all of the right reasons. Shakespeare is not spinning in his grave, but perhaps he will rise from it just to see this delightful, theatrical gorefest."
--Rachel Kerry, New York Theater Review
"Honestly, I couldn't keep up a body count...directed by Joan Jubett in the boisterous style of fellow genre-masters the Vampire Cowboys...the blood effects, courtesy of Stephanie Cox-Williams, are splendid...Bates keeps the iambic pentameter going right until the end, which is no mean feat."
--Alexis Soloski, The New York Times
“This strong cast only enhances Bates’ clever text…Murdy’s devilish Apothecary is especially delightful. Her detailed performance binds the perfect combination of frightening yet enticing; Bates crafts a character who is horrendous, yet you love watching him wreak havoc.”
–Sarah Weber, Theatre Is Easy
Learn more about this extraordinary new play and get to know the zombie horde HERE .
R & J & Z exceeds all expectations... Jubett and Bates have accomplished that rare satisfying balance of scary and funny... R & J & Z is a very entertaining show for all of the right reasons. Shakespeare is not spinning in his grave, but perhaps he will rise from it just to see this delightful, theatrical gorefest."
--Rachel Kerry, New York Theater Review
"Honestly, I couldn't keep up a body count...directed by Joan Jubett in the boisterous style of fellow genre-masters the Vampire Cowboys...the blood effects, courtesy of Stephanie Cox-Williams, are splendid...Bates keeps the iambic pentameter going right until the end, which is no mean feat."
--Alexis Soloski, The New York Times
“This strong cast only enhances Bates’ clever text…Murdy’s devilish Apothecary is especially delightful. Her detailed performance binds the perfect combination of frightening yet enticing; Bates crafts a character who is horrendous, yet you love watching him wreak havoc.”
–Sarah Weber, Theatre Is Easy
Learn more about this extraordinary new play and get to know the zombie horde HERE .
R & J & Z - the Z stand for Zombies - begins with Shakespeare's Act V and keeps going as the famous lovers navigate a world in which death isn't necessarily the end. Equally inspired by Shakespeare and modern zombie films, this new verse play pushes the boundaries of theatrical humor and horror.
"R & J & Z is an unexpected marriage, a mash-up whose diverse pieces come together to create something new and different and wildly entertaining. It's a wonderful piece of work from Melody Bates - whether you're a fan of the Bard, brains, or both, there's something here for you." -The Maine Edge
Learn more about this extraordinary new play, see photos from the Opera House Arts production, and get to know the zombie horde HERE .
