The "Romeo and Juliet" of Alec R. Costandinos

Imagine Shakespeare rendered into disco. Hard, isn't it. Yet, this Alec R. Costandinos masterpiece was my introduction to "Romeo and Juliet," and the beginning of a long love affair with Shakespeare!

 
Moreover, I began memorizing passages from his plays, and would recite them everywhere - in the car, in my bedroom, at the library. Beginning with the opening sonnet (Chorus) of "Romeo and Juliet," just so I could sing along with this Costandinos' piece!

Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life,
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Doth with their death bury their parents̓ strife.
The fearful passage of their death-marked love
And the continuance of their parents̓ rage,
Which but their children̓'s end, naught could remove,
Is now the two-hours̓ traffic of our stage;
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

Then, the sonnet to open Act II:

Now old desire doth in his death-bed lie,
And young affection gapes to be his heir;
That fair for which love groan'd for and would die,
With tender Juliet match'd, is now not fair.
Now Romeo is beloved and loves again,
Alike betwitched by the charm of looks,
But to his foe supposed he must complain,
And she steal love's sweet bait from fearful hooks:
Being held a foe, he may not have access
To breathe such vows as lovers use to swear;
And she as much in love, her means much less
To meet her new-beloved any where:
But passion lends them power, time means, to meet
Tempering extremities with extreme sweet.