A fusion of hip-hop, rap, Shakespeare, and a little West Side Story thrown in, Rennie Harris' Rome and Jewels, is a retelling of a classic feud, a hip-hop opera with arias of rap. The title roles (played by members of Harris' company Puremovement) have been brilliantly reinvented, placed in a present-day setting far from the two houses of Verona and the Renaissance. Warring Philly gangs replace the Montagues and the Capulets of Shakespeare's piece -- the Monster Q's (led by Rome) and the Caps (led by Tibault) take center stage, and it is this conflict that fuels the familiar plot of "star crossed lovers" caught in a moment of intense violence and distrust. Instead of iambic pentameter, the lyrical language of Rome and Jewels is revealed through hip-hop rhythm, spoken word prowess, and hard-hitting rap.

The members of Puremovement, a Philadelphia-based dance troupe founded in 1992, live up to their company's name. Rome and Jewels is certainly about movement --hip-hop monologues, frenetic energy, and moves that defy the laws of physics shape the nature of the piece. However, there is more to this show than just a spectacular sensory presentation. According to The Village Voice, "The message goes beyond the sensational dazzle of head spins and dives, of limbs that twist so fast their owner seems to be disassembling himself. It encompasses the wish to be identified, and to identify oneself as an individual, not just a member of a gang."

It is this message that is at the heart of Rome and Jewels, a piece that creator Rennie Harris, a veteran of the rap scene since the eighties, took almost three years to complete. According to Mr. Harris, in a New York Times interview, "To be honest, Rome is me at this moment. We each have one foot in the street and one foot in the universe." Thus, Rome and Jewels is drawn from both

Romeo and Juliet

and Harris' own life on the streets. A native of North Philadelphia, Rennie Harris has, as his official biography states, "watched friends join gangs, deal drugs, and ruin their lives."

This potential for destruction and ruin is present in Rome and Jewels, in which the lovers are resigned to their own deaths, even at their first meeting. The reality of the streets, and the politics of gang life, are what circumscribe the existences of both Rome and Jewels; it is this realization that sets the stage for an age-old tragedy told from a uniquely intricate, compellingly updated perspective.

Rome and Jewels comes to the Fine Arts Center on September 20, 2001, for a two-show engagement. Both shows will be held in the Fine Arts Center Concert Hall. The first show -- a 10 a.m. performance -- will be a matinee for middle and high school-aged audiences. An evening performance will take place at 8 p.m. For tickets call the Fine Arts Center Box Office at 545-2511 or 1-800-999-UMAS.