Peter Ustinov’s ensemble play Romanoff and Juliet is a sophisticated comedy that’s at once a satire of the Cold War and a parody of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Set in a fictional country, the play concerns a love affair between Juliet, the daughter of an American ambassador, and Romanoff, the son of a Russian ambassador. Their love torn asunder by the ideological differences of their families, Juliet and Romanoff are forced to conceal their romance as their respective fathers attempt to forge an alliance with the country’s president. Shakespeare fans will recognize the nods to perhaps his most famous play and history buffs will find a lot to enjoy about the sketch comedy-esque commentary on U.S./Russian relations.
Romanoff and Juliet guide sections
