Shedding new light on an old theme is a feat many theatrical directors attempt.

Director Robin Stone, however, is bringing new darkness to ISU Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.”

“Everything is fun and games until somebody gets killed,” says Stone, assistant professor of music, describing the searing pain and mayhem in the play, which debuts at Fisher Theater this weekend.

“This is not the pretty love song sung from a balcony version of ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ ” says Ashley Lorenz, junior in performing arts, who plays Juliet. “This is ‘Everything’s dirty, everything’s violent and hateful.’ The only shining truth is Romeo and Juliet’s love for each other.”

“A lot of Shakespeare is very sexual, very drug oriented and not a lot of people realize that,” adds Kenneth Oishi, freshman in performing arts, who plays Romeo. “This is a very different production. It’s going to be a huge eye-opener.”

Much of the dismal mood that the play portrays will be seen in the tenebrous costume designs and makeup. The costumes were designed by Greg Duckett, lecturer in music.

“The costumes that [Duckett] has designed are out of this world — it’s a combination of metal culture and S&M,” Lorenz says. “Some of our soldiers are in pleather strips … strings holding other strings together.

“Our nurse is buried in so much fabric that it’s hard to even see where she begins,” she adds. “It’s a magnificent combination of the bare minimum and way too much.”

“Some of the characters, along with the rest of the world, are seen through [Romeo and Juliet’s] eyes and are probably more grotesque, and less human than they are,” Stone says.

“The set also adds to the message that we’re trying to send out,” Oishi adds. “It’s very awkward-looking. There’s really no flat forms — it’s very crooked and slanted.”

Besides the overall gloom that is cast on this production, a religious twist has been carefully added in order to make a real distinction between the feuding families, Stone says.

“The Capulets are Muslim and the Montagues are Christian,” he says. “We’re not trying to make statements about religion.

“I’m not trying to say anything against any religion or for any religion, except that religion is often a reason to motivate people’s negative behavior, as well as positive behavior.”

Stone says his goal is to force the audience to realize the parallels between the fictitious tragedy that is “Romeo and Juliet” and the real tragedies in our world.

“I like to focus on plays that are socially relevant,” he says. “We are apparently about to go to war and many of us don’t really know what the reasons are.

“And in the meantime, there are conflicts that are going on around the world that have been going on for generations.

“They continue because people are brought up hating other people. Unending hatred and violence is illogical.”

Who: ISU Theatre presents “Romeo and Juliet”

Where: Fisher Theater

When: Feb. 28, March 1, 7 and 8 at 7:30 p.m. and March 2 and 9 at 2 p.m.

Cost: $5.50 students, $11 public