2 Households, 2 Assholes: Shakespeare's R & J

Get ready to dodge flying beads of sweat in this two-man version of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, in which Samuel Muñoz and Aaron Muñoz (not kissing cousins) traverse the small SoHo Playhouse stage for 60 minutes like a pair of fiery-footed steeds on speed. Rapid speeches and energetic stage combat early on leave the performers’ chests heaving, and it can be a challenge to understand and follow the action; but soon they settle into a more metered stride. Using stylized movement, two swords, and three large Hacky Sacks, the pair zips back and forth among 20 roles, wisely allotting the majority of time to the doomed lovers. Aaron, whose frame and frenetic energy recall James Corden in One Man, Two Guvnors, is especially appealing as Juliet, and the easy chemistry between him and Samuel’s Romeo makes for sincere and delightful love scenes. However, the action finishes too abruptly right after Juliet’s death. When all is sweat and done, this bravura reduction mainly feels like a skilled exercise. (Visit fringenyc.org for more information.)—Robin Rothstein