I think the story was very good, but what really stands out is Maureen's acting in this episode! The way her self-esteem goes from no confidence to sheer rudeness and arrogance shows great talent!

However, did anyone else think Harold Axelrod really sucked as Romeo!? LOL! He does have kind of a whiny, "squeaky" voice with almost no power or conviction. I think the producers wanted Randy Case, (Who played Harold) to do Romeo in a mediocre way, to give more "ammunition" to Marcia's annoyance with him.

I wonder if Robert Reed objected to Romeo wearing glasses, or how much he influenced this particular script? (Reed was a Shakespeare buff and in later years, taught Shakespeare classes at UCLA.)

One of my top episodes!

Jack

As a kid, I always resented Carol's cold attitude towards Marcia after she gets let go from the play, even though it was deserved--like Carol should be siding with her daughter instead of the teacher.

As a kid, I always resented Carol's cold attitude towards Marcia after she gets let go from the play, even though it was deserved--like Carol should be siding with her daughter instead of the teacher.

I think Carol did the right thing. If she hadn't, Marcia could have changed lines, moved to different places, done anything unexpected during the performance. Just like she did during the rehearsal. She even tried to change Shakespeare!

Jack

As a kid, I always resented Carol's cold attitude towards Marcia after she gets let go from the play, even though it was deserved--like Carol should be siding with her daughter instead of the teacher.
This is more indicative of an era in which parents generally backed up teachers' decisions--unlike today.

The inclusion of the theme "What is a Youth?" from the 1968 film Romeo and Juliet was an excellent feature of this episode. It was used in several other episodes, but this episode was understandably enriched by that theme.

...However, did anyone else think Harold Axelrod really sucked as Romeo!? LOL! He does have kind of a whiny, "squeaky" voice with almost no power or conviction....


He quit squeaking last year!!

Totally agree though, that he was a poor choice for Romeo. Of all the guys in the school, that's the best they could come up with?

I think Carol did the right thing. If she hadn't, Marcia could have changed lines, moved to different places, done anything unexpected during the performance. Just like she did during the rehearsal. She even tried to change Shakespeare!

Jack


Agreed... about the most annoying thing someone can do during a performance is to do something totally unexpected... which could throw off everyone else in the cast who are looking and waiting for certain cues.

I know that Harold was a completely ludicrous choice for the role of Romeo, but man, the episode is hilarious because of his whiny comments and exasperated conversations with Marcia- I love it when he can't find Marcia because she went to the balcony during one of their rehearsals, and he goes, "Oh, there you are." I agree that this is an awesome episode- one of my favorites to quote, haha! The only part that's out of place is when Marcia does her overdramatic "Moooooooooooom!!!" scream after Carol and Mrs. Goodwin fire her from the play. That was pushing the boundaries of an otherwise solid episode.

I know that Harold was a completely ludicrous choice for the role of Romeo, but man, the episode is hilarious because of his whiny comments and exasperated conversations with Marcia- I love it when he can't find Marcia because she went to the balcony during one of their rehearsals, and he goes, "Oh, there you are." I agree that this is an awesome episode- one of my favorites to quote, haha! The only part that's out of place is when Marcia does her overdramatic "Moooooooooooom!!!" scream after Carol and Mrs. Goodwin fire her from the play. That was pushing the boundaries of an otherwise solid episode.

I love this episode. It's in my top five!

I don't think Marcia's "Mom" was over-dramatic at all. She had such an arrogant egotistical attitude toward the role that her body and mind absolutely CONVINCED her that she was "The Star." When Carol met with Ms. Goodwin, and it is decided that Marcia's understudy would be given the part, Marcia really felt betrayed. This is what happens with inflated egos get crushed.

It is only after having a good cry, that Marcia finally realizes how difficult her condescending attitude was to all around her, even to her own family. I liked how she sincerely apologizes at the end when the actress playing Lady Capulet gets sick with the mumps, and Marcia becomes her understudy.

Jack

I love this episode. It's in my top five!

I don't think Marcia's "Mom" was over-dramatic at all. She had such an arrogant egotistical attitude toward the role that her body and mind absolutely CONVINCED her that she was "The Star." When Carol met with Ms. Goodwin, and it is decided that Marcia's understudy would be given the part, Marcia really felt betrayed. This is what happens with inflated egos get crushed.

It is only after having a good cry, that Marcia finally realizes how difficult her condescending attitude was to all around her, even to her own family. I liked how she sincerely apologizes at the end when the actress playing Lady Capulet gets sick with the mumps, and Marcia becomes her understudy.

Jack

Marcia's turn-around at the end of the episode certainly is genuine and very well portrayed; I suppose over-dramatic was the wrong way to put that, because now that you mention it, it does make sense that she would have such an emotional reaction after getting crushed like she was.