The actors rush across the stage, recite their lines, and look in the mirror to make sure their appearance is just right. They fight to retain their memory and try not to let their nerves get the best of them. These actors are a part of the Woodward Park Shakespeare Festival, or Shakespeare in the Park.

The Woodward Park version of Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare?s tragedies about a feud between two families and a love story. However, the Fresno stage version is set during World War II instead of Renaissance Italy.

Romeo, played by Adam Meredith, and Juliet played by Kimberly Guevara, are stuck in a the midst of their fighting families yet are committed to each other.

?I thought it was good for a middle central California play in the heat of Fresno,? Mick Fuller, English teacher, said. He went on to say, ?The play was just fine for a community theater. I?ll probably recommend it to the class for extra credit.?

After asking a group of freshman about going to see Romeo and Juliet, varied reasons were found.

Many in the class said they were only going to see Romeo and Juliet to get extra credit for the their English class, including Brittany Shaffer, Molly Griffin, Kelly Batesole and Lindsay Bolduc.

While some of the freshman are only going for extra credit reasons, some are actually going to profit their learning.

?A bunch of us are going together on Thursday this week to understand the book better and what we think about it,? Kailee Maxi said. “We will study Romeo and Juliet in the spring in English so this will be a good help.”

Not only did they go for school purposes but they also went with their parents and made it a family event.

?Although I was a little confused, I liked the World War II twist to the play,? Mitchell Callisch said he went to the play.

This summer, some have already gone to Shakespeare in the Park to see Much Ado About Nothing, including members of the Academic Decathlon team. Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy set in Messina, Italy.

?I think it is profitable for group to see a play performed rather then read since Shakespeare?s play was meant to be seen, not read,? Molly Sargent, English teacher, said.

While the production is free, those traveling by car into Woodward Park must pay a $3 entrance fee per vehicle. Showtime is at dusk or around 8 P.M. and is in the Rotary Amphitheater and are each Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from Aug. 25-Sept. 17.

For more information about Shakespeare in the Park and a detailed review of Romeo and Juliet, visit online at www.fresnofamous.com/wsf.html or visit the Woodward Shakespeare Festival site at www.woodwardshakespeare.org.