After A Clip From Broadway's "Romeo + Juliet" Sparked Discussion On Theatre Etiquette, Rachel Zegler And Kit Connor Responded To The Crowd's Interactions

As Rachel Zegler and Kit Connor's Romeo + Juliet enters its preview stage, the two stars reacted to the perhaps surprisingly lively Broadway crowd.

It's both actors' Broadway debuts in the adaptation of the Shakespeare tragedy, which is performed with the audience sitting around the stage. Clips from the production have already made the rounds, with one clip filmed on a phone showing a kiss between the characters garnering huge cheers and applause. It sparked some discussion over Broadway etiquette, especially as theatre audiences have tended to be more reserved.

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People with their phones out in the theatre personally grind my gears, but hey! Maybe I am just a haggard curmudgeon!

In a new episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Rachel confirmed that director Sam Gold initially pitched the adaptation to her as "a Troye Sivan music video" where the 20-something characters had to "get something off their chest."

"You can see everybody and what’s been really wonderful, we’re only a few previews in...but it’s so awesome to feel like you really have an audience," Rachel continued. "And they’re responding to us verbally."

Affirming that the crowd does "talk back," she continued, "There’s a line I say, ‘Was ever book containing such vital matter so fairly bound?’ And someone was in the front row going, ‘No.’ It was awesome."

When Jimmy asked Kit if the moment "throws" him, Kit replied, "I had the exact same thing with, I think, the same person on the same night. I was like, end of a massive fight, I’m sort of there panting like not sure what to do. And then I just hear like, ‘Romeo, walk away.’ My immediate thought was just like, ‘Wow, she’s really into it.’”

Perhaps the vibes are simply too compelling?