Watching Romeo and Juliet in Philipsburg the other night, as performed by the troupe from Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, made me feel that it was the most I’d ever enjoyed the play.

I chatted with some of the actors afterwards.

In this extract I ask what is distinctive about their work for MSIP and what has surprised them most.

The voices in order of appearance are:

Nate Cheeseman (pictured right: Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet, and Orlando in As You Like It), Michael Gonring (pictured left: playing Paris and Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet and Silvius and Charles in As You Like It) and Andrew Rathberger (centre: Mercutio and Friar John in Romeo and Juliet, and Touchstone in As You Like It).

I then spoke with (in order of appearance in the recording): Joanna Harmon (pictured left: Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet, and Rosalind in As You Like It), Bobby Bowman (pictured right: Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet, and Le Beau and Corin in As You Like It), Casey Hoekstra (pictured second from left: Romeo, and Oliver in As You Like It), and Erik Pearson (pictured second from right: Lord Capulet in Romeo and Juliet, and Duke Senior and Duke Frederick in As You Like It).