William Shakespeare is alive and well at the Butler Little Theatre as "Romeo and Juliet" opened Friday night to a packed house.

A cast of young and veteran actors offered commendable performances, breathing live into the centuries-old classic. Director Paul Haughey did a great job generating enthusiasm in his younger players and teaching them not just to be able to speak Shakespeare but to own it.

Effective staging, stellar costumes and a wonderful, workable set added to the success of the production.

Romeo and Juliet, portrayed by Jud Michael Stewart and Gretchen Perschke, were perfectly cast in the roles of the star-crossed lovers bound for a whirlwind romance. It seemed as though the audience enjoyed the couple so much, they wished for a different ending.

Statuesque Perschke with her luscious locks looked every part the spoiled little princess of the overbearing Capulet played by Ron Lockwood. She delivered her lines believably and beautifully.

Perschke, who is evolving into quite an actress, showed her maturity in her ability to change her emotions from an impetuous young lover to that of a desperate woman willing to do anything to hold on to her love.

Romeo was capably played. Stewart was the quintessential handsome, sympathetic hero who delivered Shakespeare as if he had a part in writing the play. He conveyed the emotions of a man who was in love with the thought of being in love.

He seemed comfortable with both the language and the role and excelled in both.

Stewart and Perschke brought a fresh and vibrant tone to the classic tale of woe.

Other noteworthy performances include that of the jovial Mercutio, played by Stefanie Auth. She was fantastic in her delivery as well as in her body language. She was comfortable in what is traditionally a male role. Her chemistry with her teenage buddies, Romeo and Benvolio, was believable.

The role of Friar Laurence was expertly played by Jerry Johnston. Full of good intentions, though misguided, his most moving scene was his final one as the plot began to unravel. Johnston portrayed a man devastated by the consequences of his actions.

Taking comic honors for the evening was Sharon Auth, who portrayed Juliet's nurse. She was hysterically funny and irreverent at times. She too was able to easily shift in and out of some of the emotionally charged scenes. Her rapport with Juliet was special.

Auth was both tender and audacious and very fun to watch.

While Romeo and Juliet's scenes were tender up to their violent end, Juliet's scene with her parents as they presented their plan to forcibly marry her to Paris, was cruelly intense and devastating to watch.

Lockwood pulled out all the stops going from a caring father to a ruthless dictator in just a few lines.

His wife, played by Barb Keller, was a good compliment to his nature, and she too was able to play quite well a parent scorned.

The sword fighting throughout the play was most impressive and well choreographed.

It has been fun to watch some of the younger actors, such as Christian Bruggeman, Perschke and Stewart blossom into actors who not only play a role in Shakespeare but master one of the most challenging, crafty and witty playwrights of all time.

The BLT has done a great job training, inspiring and equipping these young players.

If to go or not to go is your query, by all means go.

WHAT: Butler Little Theatre's production of William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet"WHEN: 8:15 p.m. Friday and Saturdays and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, now through Feb. 5.WHERE: The Butler Little Theatre, One Howard St.TICKETS: $8; call 724-287-6781 between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.INFO: www.bltgroup.org