This is not a quintessential love story. It’s the fast paced story of two infatuated teenage lovers,” said director Stephen Murray, a Speech senior, of his two-hour-long condensed, intense version of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.”

Fourteen students, mostly theater majors, make up the cast. The show is being staged by Lovers and Madmen, a group founded in the spring of 2000 to “give Shakespeare a face on this campus,” according to Brian Pastor.

“We emphasize the themes that we feel are important, including love, the division of families and the strife that follows,” said Pastor, a Weinberg senior and the group’s vice president.

“We focus totally on the passions of youth and how they affect the world, so (the play) applies especially to college students,” added Anthony Nelson, a Speech senior and president of Lovers and Madmen.

Murray said many directors update Shakespeare’s works to appeal to a modern audience.

“By (updating the show), the director creates problems for himself such as how to deal with the weaponry, social customs and other things that have gone by the wayside,” Murray said. “I decided to be unique in doing the play seemingly as it was intended.”

Murray chose to perform the show as a period piece, because it “is something that is always greatly appreciated, though rarely done.”

He took a stage-combat class last year along with Nelson and Max Shulman, a Communication senior who plays Mercutio. According to Murray, they taught the other cast members how to sword fight.

“Between text work, learning to swordfight and rehearsing, its been a busy nine weeks,” said Pastor, who plays the role of Father Lawrence. “It’s difficult to learn and embody the language in this show, but our show has found its shape.”

The set in Shanley has also found a new shape: it now has a balcony.

The set is divided into four levels and took set designer and Kyle O. Jones’ team two days to construct inside the theater.

“I said, ‘We need a balcony inside Shanley, Kyle.’ And what he created is the biggest set I’ve seen in there,” said Murray.

“Ben Kravitz, my roommate, and I worked on the set design” Jones said. “He and I both came up with the set in 15 minutes while standing around at Home Depot.”

“Lovers and Madmen is fun yet professional,” said Jason Nellis, a Speech sophomore who plays the Nurse’s servant.

“The show definitely shows that action begets action; it builds on itself and is very high energy. The final death scene is the show’s final crescendo.” nyou

Who: Lovers and Madmen

When: 8 p.m. Thurs., 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Fri. and Sat.

Where: Shanley Pavilion

Cost: $5, at Norris Box Office or the door