Cincinnati Shakespeare opens its season with an urban, edgy and urgent Romeo & Juliet.

        In this thoroughly involving production, the Bard's “two hours traffic” bears more than a passing resemblance to Traffic, or at least the scenes filmed in Cincinnati.

        While director Brian Isaac Phillips doesn't identify his urban landscape as the Queen City, the derelict neighborhood where Romeo and his friends hang in gangsta chic could pass for Over-the-Rhine.

        Juliet is strictly Indian Hill, with the stereotypical parents — dad (Michael Shooner) is a CEO-type, mom (Sherman Fracher) is the country club wife who starts her drinkie-winkies early in the day.

        Mr. Phillips gets everything right here — the pacing, the emotional balance between melodrama and tragedy, the dead-on musical choices and particularly wonderfully etched performances in key supporting roles. You're glued to the action, and when it kicks into tragedy, it grabs you.

        The star-crossed young lovers' story plays out on an essentially bare stage in front of revolving panels that set the action in poor and posh parts of town, nicely realized by Will Turbyne. Heidi Jo Schiemer has the big job here, of establishing character through costuming. Thanks to her, they step on stage and you know them.

        Ghillian Porter shows promise of good things to come in her first festival appearance. Even with her teddy bear and jammies she doesn't convince me she's 14, or of the gravity of her choices, but Ms. Porter has passion and conviction to burn.

        Kenderick Hardy is her Romeo, a hero of the street, properly conflicted and sexy as all get-out.

        It shouldn't matter that this Romeo & Juliet is the first time I can recall seeing a truly interracial ensemble at a professional Cincinnati theater, but it does. It feels satisfying and — hopeful.

        Now to those sterling supporting players:

        Christopher Guthrie is going to earn himself a fan base with his rendition of hot-headed Mercutio. Mr. Guthrie, who first came to attention as a member of the festival's Young Company, was already providing admirable support in quiet roles last season.

        As Mercutio (who has to die early, before he steals the entire show out from under the lovers) Mr. Guthrie has the moves, heart and a giddy way with sleight-of-hand.

        Sandi McCree does double duty as Romeo's mom, so clearly a single mother on a corporate track, losing time with her kid in an effort to buy him a better life, and Juliet's nurse.

        As the loving, fussing and feisty nurse, Ms. McCree uses every trick she can think of to create a big comic turn, then pulls the ground out from under us.

        Compliments to Mr. Shooner and Ms. Fracher for creating a compelling drama about a bad marriage on the outskirts of the main action.

        Mr. Shooner's intensity is a magnet for a character who is all smiles and rage by turn; Ms. Fracher minutely explores the interior of a very unhappy woman without ever unbalancing the main action. It's a subtle and elegant performance.

        Resonating throughout the show are how none of the parents, good or bad, has a clue about their kids' lives.

        Aaron Todd Douglas and Taylore Mahogany Scott, also provide solid support.

        Romeo & Juliet, Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival, through Oct. 13. 381-2273

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