I'm not a purist. I like remakes. I like wacky interpretations. I like when I recognize the skeletal remains of a classic in some bizarre crime scene of a modern version. I believe in living documents. But I do wonder if we're underestimating the general public's ability to engage with original material because the language or syntax is different, or because the original text takes place in an unfamiliar time or place. AND I wonder if the general public underestimates its own ability to engage with those same texts. A lot of times being pushed out of our comfort zones can be mistaken for being disinterested. It almost seems like a kind of literacy is being lost - if we can't see how this directly relates to us here and now, the text is no longer meaningful.

In a related note, season two of Sex Education has one of the most hilarious productions of Romeo and Juliet ever.
"Sex Education Season Two: Sexy Shakespeare." YouTube, uploaded by coffee & tv, 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE85C9lNedQ