In Its Tragic Finale, ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Is Interrupted by a Cat
The New York Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- During a recent performance of Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet" ballet in Izmir, Turkey, an orange cat unexpectedly wandered onstage during Act 3, disrupting the scene where Romeo had just died.
- The dancer playing Romeo maintained composure despite the cat biting and scratching his head, adhering to the rule that a performer playing dead must remain still.
- Juliet's character improvised by dragging Romeo's body away from the cat, a departure from traditional choreography, before resuming her mourning.
- The theater and ballet company have not commented on the incident or whether the cat will appear in future performances.
- The unexpected feline visitor added an unplanned moment of levity to the tragic ballet, inspiring playful puns linking Shakespeare and cats.
