I’d say it’s safe to assume that everyone reading this is familiar with the classic tale of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The infamous story of star-crossed lovers has been told time and again. There’s a myriad of modern interpretations already out there. Although never has it been told in such a novel, thrilling, and collaborative approach as The 7 Fingers’ production of Duel Reality, a show that beautifully blends death-defying acrobatics, modern dance, and theatrical storytelling to create something truly memorable.
The play on words of the show’s title (“duel reality” rather than “dual reality”) is present from the very beginning. The audience is divided into dueling sections (Red vs. Blue, Montagues vs. Capulets), with the stage split down the middle and sectioned off like a basketball or tennis court. Yet, that split definitely didn’t prevent the performers from utilizing every part of that stage. The full movement of running, leaping, flipping, and tossing across the stage — as well as soaring above it — consistently excites the viewer’s eye from every possible angle.
Although the two households may have been divided, the audience in their excitement definitely wasn’t! Loud gasping, cheering, wooing, and playful booing in the spirit of competition — spurred on by the stage performers — prompts a unified sense of hope, wonder, and excitement throughout the performance. The interactive elements are perfectly balanced in a way that encourages everyone to have fun without crossing that fine line into uncomfortable involvement.
The thrilling stunts and acrobatics are delicately interwoven with contemporary ballet scenes between our Romeo and Juliet — serendipitously played by real-life partners Gerardo Gutiérrez (Romeo) and Michelle Hernandez (Juliet). Gutiérrez and Hernandez have been enchanting audiences in their portrayal of perhaps the most infamous lovers ever known since they first joined the contemporary circus company The 7 Fingers back in 2022.
The 7 Fingers is a Canadian art collective based in Montreal, with the goal of redefining the caricatured image associated with the circus. The entire cast of Duel Reality are members of The 7 Fingers and have come together from all over the world, including Mexico, Argentina, Sweden, France, Spain, South Africa, Guatemala, and, of course, Canada. The show’s director, Shana Carroll, is the co-founding artistic director of The 7 Fingers.
I found the highlight of the evening to be the intense juxtaposition of the quick transitions from the audience’s cacophonous applause during truly unbelievable stunt routines into utter stillness as everyone sat mesmerized by the powerful and poignant movements of Hernandez and Gutiérrez’s masterful, modern dance routines. Their graceful dancing is infused with beautiful storytelling elements, showcasing the complex yet complete range of emotions — trust, lust, and sorrow — felt by these beloved characters.
The music they dance to, as well as the show’s entire playlist, is all original compositions by Musical Director and Composer Colin Gagné. Incorporating everything from electronic to rap to jazz to folk, the music and lyrics work as a narrative device to help the audience decipher plot points without the cast having to recite every line of the original play. The music flirts with various light show elements and techniques, performed by the cast and crew, to further enrich the overall experience. This includes stunningly spectacular silhouettes of the performers projected against a contrasting red and blue lighting backdrop.
The costume designer, Camille Thibault-Bédard, also incorporates the dueling red and blue into her design. She perfectly maintains the practical elements required for the athleticism involved in the show while still playing on the theme of duality, a concept we already associate with athletics and sports in general — Us vs. Them, my team vs. your team, or in the case of Romeo and Juliet, my family vs. your family. Yet, in a stunning display of challenging that ingrained ideology, the costumes are further used at a turning point to represent the reality that, once our false divisions are stripped away, we are all the same.
Along with the music and costumes, the entire production and artistic team was on point from beginning to end. The production director (Maude St-Pierre), the technical director (Simon Carrière), the technical coordinator (Audrey Belzile), the lighting designer (Alexander Nichols), the acrobatic coach (Francisco Cruz), the assistant to the artistic director (Anna Kichtchenko), and others work in tandem to elevate the show at every turn.
In the finale scene of Duel Reality, the cast makes a pun on one of the most famous lines from the original play to sum up the show perfectly… “For never was a story of more woah.” The 7 Fingers’ novel approach to such a classic tale — a tale of the deep duality (or in this case, duel-ity) of humanity — combines unmeasurable acrobatics, powerfully poignant dance, and an epic twist ending (no spoilers!) all culminating in an evening of endless excitement!
Running Time: Approximately 75 minutes with no intermission.
Duel Reality plays through July 20, 2025, presented by Shakespeare Theatre Company at Harman Hall, 610 F Street NW, Washington, DC. Tickets ($35–$106) are available at the box office, online, by calling (202) 547-1122, or through TodayTix. Youth tickets are available to all persons 17 and under for $35 with the purchase of an adult ticket, by phone only. Shakespeare Theatre Company offers discounts for military servicepeople, first responders, senior citizens, young people, and neighbors, as well as rush tickets. Contact the Box Office or visit Shakespearetheatre.org/tickets-and-events/special-offers/ for more information.
The Asides program for Duel Reality is online here.
Duel Reality
By The 7 Fingers
Directed by Shana Carroll
Originally produced and created with Virgin Voyages
Commissioning partner ArtsEmerson
SEE ALSO:
International circus artists of ‘Duel Reality’ to arrive in DC at STC on July 1 (news story, June 18)
Shakespeare Theatre Company announces ‘Duel Reality’ (news story, November 18, 2025)