INTERVIEW: Anita Pomario makes American stage debut in ‘Romeo & Juliet’
Photo: Romeo & Juliet stars Anita Pomario and Aria Shaghasemi. Performances continue until Oct. 22. Photo courtesy of Will O’Hare / Provided by Jorgensen PR with permission.
For years, Shakespeare@ has delighted audiences with its unique takes on Shakespeare’s many works, and now the theatrical company, which is based in Jersey City, New Jersey, has rebranded as The Curtain. Its inaugural production is none other than Romeo & Juliet, starring Anita Pomario as Juliet and Aria Shaghasemi as Romeo. Performances of the beloved play, directed and adapted by Sean Hagerty, continue through Oct. 22 at the Nimbus Arts Center.
Pomario is actually making her American stage debut in the production. The actor is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, according to her official biography, and she has performed in several cinematic roles over the years, including Giuseppina in Fireworks and Pinuccia in The Macaluso Sisters. She’s originally from Italy but currently based in London.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Pomario to talk about her first time on stage in the United States and what it means to play this iconic role. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What’s it like to make your American stage debut?
Very scary and of course exciting. I felt a lot of responsibility towards this iconic role and towards Sean who decided to trust me on this journey. For me, every stage has got the same relevance and deserves the same level of respect and commitment, but the idea of playing in English on a lead role for the first time was the scariest part.
Is this your first time playing Juliet? How has the experience been?
It is the first time. When I was younger I remember doing a crazy mashup monologue of all the most iconic Shakespearean characters, and in that one, I was playing both Romeo and Juliet. It was very grotesque and absurd, but I never thought I had the right characteristics to play Juliet. So I was quite shocked when Sean called me. It’s been very intense, I’m not gonna lie. I gave all my energy to this character, and she’s been affecting me more than I was expecting. It was interesting to notice how much digging deep into her fragilities and fears affected my everyday life.
What do you like about the Juliet character?
She’s been so surprising to play. She’s brave and fearless. I found sides of her I could relate to, and it was fun to make her come towards me on other things. So we kind of met in between. She’s definitely someone who has to grow up at once, and I relate to that. She’s tender and sweet but incredibly full of passion. She’s funny, awkward and extremely clever. I guess I had no idea how much freedom this character could have given me before I decided to give myself over to this story. It’s been an incredible journey.
How do you make this character your own and not be influenced by other actors who have portrayed her?
I had purposefully decided not to watch any videos or productions during rehearsal because I didn’t want to create an idea or an expectation in my mind about what this character was supposed to sound or look like. I knew I didn’t want to make her a romantic icon who was at the mercy of events, so I read the play over and over. And I decided the only way I could have made this truthful was to do it by being honest to myself and who I am as a woman today — understand deeply Juliet’s circumstances and make them happen using my voice, my strength and my willpower. Every night I’m on stage it’s like a secret date between me and Juliet. It’s quite fun, you never know what mood we’re gonna be in.
Do you believe some of the themes in Romeo & Juliet are still important to hear in 2023?
Definitely. If we speak about the fear of something/someone just because it has a specific name, isn’t [that] the same as saying we discriminate someone by giving them a specific label? That sounds so backward yet so relevant today, which is a crazy contradiction. We live in a world that is trying to break barriers by creating more labels, but … “What’s in a name?” Juliet would say. As for the love story, I believe Romeo and Juliet is not about two young people desperately loving each other. I think it speaks about two young people who find their reflection of freedom in someone else, and when they understand that that freedom will be taken away from them they’re brave enough to die for it.
I find that devastating and incredibly brave. And yes, I do think it’s important to remember in 2023 it’s worth fighting for an ideal.
What’s it like working with director Sean Hagerty?
I had worked with Sean before; he was my teacher. Working with him in a professional environment was inspiring. He understands Shakespeare better than anyone I know, and he gave me the freedom to play with this role in my way, always guiding me through the right path when I was going off the road. I think the biggest thing for me was allowing myself to trust the work we had done, and he has been an incredible support in that. So I can only thank him for wanting to go on this journey with me.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Romeo & Juliet, starring Anita Pomario and Aria Shaghasemi, continues through Oct. 22 at the Nimbus Arts Center in Jersey City, New Jersey. The production, presented by The Curtain, is directed by Sean Hagerty, who also adapted the play. Click here for more information and tickets.
