Last night, Eleanor, Jeremy, and I went to a production of Romeo and Juliet in Bagnoregio. A town that looks remarkably like a dribble castle, it behaves as one, too: the friable rock regularly gives way about the edges, leading to landslides and destruction of those buildings. St. Bonaventure was from Bagnoregio, and his house has long since crumbled away; the remains are presumably scattered in the surrounding valley.
The site is unbelievably picturesque: situated in a lunar landscape, it is on a high outcropping that is accessible only by a causeway. Only 10 people live in Bagnoregio still because of its inaccessibility; one is allowed across the causeway by motorbike or in an Ape (tiny utility truck) only twice a day in certain hours. "Causeway" sounds easy enough, but it is a huge climb with an (at points) 18% grade. It turns out to be quite a hike.
The event was a sell-out, meaning that we couldn't get tickets for our preferred showtime (9 pm) but instead had to take the 11 pm or nothing. We took the 11 pm! The disappointment in that is that we didn't enjoy the town at dusk with sunset colors. But, hey, we got tickets!
After the 20-minute walk from the parking area across the causeway, we ended up in the entry piazzale of the town (through the archway you can see in the photo above). At slightly after the appointed start time, we were escorted through some of the narrow alleyways of this darling town and into the main piazza. There, we were confronted with rows of chairs, each chair having a burlap sack on it. Inside the sack? A mask and an invitation to a ball!
The opening scenes took place in the main piazza. Unfortunately, my camera has an irritating focusing light, so even with the flash off it can be a distraction. So, no more photos of actors!
After our initial scenes, it was time to move into a grassy courtyard...turning in our invitations and donning our masks. Party time!
There was a wonderful contralto who provided some musical accompaniment. We danced and partied for a few minutes, and then it was time for Romeo and Juliet to meet and fall in love. Back in the main piazza for the iconic balcony scene, using one of the side buildings, and the descent into death and destruction. At different points, the contralto reemerged to provide mood music, accompanied by a cellist.
The site is unbelievably picturesque: situated in a lunar landscape, it is on a high outcropping that is accessible only by a causeway. Only 10 people live in Bagnoregio still because of its inaccessibility; one is allowed across the causeway by motorbike or in an Ape (tiny utility truck) only twice a day in certain hours. "Causeway" sounds easy enough, but it is a huge climb with an (at points) 18% grade. It turns out to be quite a hike.
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| Bagnoregio in zoom from the parking area |
After the 20-minute walk from the parking area across the causeway, we ended up in the entry piazzale of the town (through the archway you can see in the photo above). At slightly after the appointed start time, we were escorted through some of the narrow alleyways of this darling town and into the main piazza. There, we were confronted with rows of chairs, each chair having a burlap sack on it. Inside the sack? A mask and an invitation to a ball!
The opening scenes took place in the main piazza. Unfortunately, my camera has an irritating focusing light, so even with the flash off it can be a distraction. So, no more photos of actors!
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| In front of the church; sword fighting imminent |
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| Jeremy and Eleanor on the way to the ball! |
Funny notes... behind Juliet, we could clearly see restaurant staff cleaning up after the evening's work. Also, at one point one of the actors declares, "Someone's coming!" Sure enough, on strolls a cat from stage right. The actor runs offstage, and the cat lopes off just behind him!
As we left, we looked back at the city from the causeway; it was shrouded in mist and was so romantic looking! A perfect end to a perfect evening.
Love,
Alexandra
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