BY BRIDGET BALCH

One of Washington's premier emerging theater groups, the Faction of Fools, is bringing its edgy, humorous take on Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" to Stafford High School on Saturday.

Retired drama teacher Fred Franklin has partnered with the Rude Mechanicals--a professional theater company for which he now serves as artistic director--and the Fredericksburg Festival for the Performing Arts to bring this unique performance to the area.

The Faction of Fools, which received the John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company at the 2012 Helen Hayes Awards in Washington, is a commedia dell'arte group.

This means it is modeled after the 16th-century Italian theater troupes that were known for comedic sketches, masks, physical comedy and props.

It is this humorous approach to Shakespeare's famous tragedy that makes this five-actor, one-hour take on the original unique.

According to Franklin, the actors use masks and physical humor to portray the characters in a goofy and entertaining way.

This performance is particularly aimed at students who have studied commedia dell'arte and read the play.

"I think students everywhere will enjoy it because they've read 'Romeo and Juliet,' so they're familiar with the story," Franklin said. "We really just want people to enjoy it."

Bridget Balch: 540/374-5444
Email: bbalch@freelancestar.com