Under the dim lights of Stony Brook’s Staller Center for the Arts, the performance of Duel Reality commenced with a modern reinterpretation of Shakespeare. The audience was divided into two factions, blue and red, as a clash unfolded on stage. This marked the beginning of a unique circus-meets-Shakespeare production by The 7 Fingers.
Duel Reality reimagines Romeo and Juliet through an athletic competition, blending acrobatics with a story of rivalry and love tested by tribalism. The show questions whether love can thrive amidst conflict.
The performers, divided into color-coded teams, engaged in acrobatic displays that pushed their physical limits. As co-founding artistic director Shana Carroll noted, trust is a fundamental aspect of the performers' interactions: “When we do anything ensemble acrobatically, we’re putting our lives into each other’s hands. The message of community isn’t just a statement, it’s actually visceral.”
In one of the most notable displays, athletes climbed poles and released themselves a breath away from the ground, eliciting enthusiastic reactions from the audience. Team Blue emerged victorious in the initial round. The subsequent juggling duel saw the Blue team claim another victory.
Shana Carroll and Gypsy Snider, co-creators of Duel Reality, drew on their backgrounds in theater and circus arts to frame the performance as an athletic event. Carroll explained, “We made it a sporting event because we wanted to portray the sort of tribalism and testosterone of a football game, and how crazy people get over their teams.” This juxtaposition of sport and tragedy was designed to highlight both the allure and the danger of such tribalism.
One scene featured acrobats on a seesaw launching 20 feet into the air, sustaining the show's balance of spectacle and grave confrontation. As the event reached its conclusion, performers removed their colored shirts, symbolizing unity. The audience followed suit by discarding their wristbands onto the stage.
In the climactic sequence, Romeo and Juliet ascended into the air in a breathtaking display of aerial choreography. Suspended above the stage, they were serenaded by guitarists, creating a poignant visual of reconciliation and unity.
Carroll's vision for Duel Reality extends beyond its spectacle: “My dream is that people leave with the notion that it’s possible to trust each other.” For the duration of the show at the Staller Center, that ambition was realized.
— Jessica Stallone