ABSTRACT
When Michael Langham asked author to play Juliet in 1960 at the Stratford Festival Theatre founded by Tyrone Guthrie in Stratford, Canada, he was terrified. Other than playing the Third Witch in the 'Scottish' play a production of Macbeth starring Michael Redgrave and Flora Robson author had no experience acting in Shakespeare's plays. Michael Langham came to New York City where author lived, and with great sensitivity and patience he guided author through the play scene by scene. He gave me a copy of the old Italian legend of Romeo and Juliet by Luigi da Porto. The legend found its way to England and to Shakespeare, for Romeo and Juliet was based on English reworking of da Porto's story. No matter how frightened author was of playing Juliet, he was challenged too: by the part, by the miraculous play itself, by the genius of the poetry, and by uniqueness of the feelings expressed by a girl not yet fourteen.
