THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Monday, November 11, 1996             TAG: 9611090029
SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A10  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                            LENGTH:   21 lines

DON'T MOCK ``CUZ''

I am writing in reference to Mal Vincent's recent review of Shakespeare's ``Romeo and Juliet.''

Vincent unjustly criticized the makers' artistic liberties. He wrote that the verse was updated for the sake of artistic creativity. Specifically, he mocked how the word ``cuz'' was used instead of cousin.

However, in his tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare does in fact use this terminology.

I refer you to Act I, Scene I of the dialogue between the two cousins, Romeo and Benvolio. Shakespeare uses the word ``cos,'' which is pronounced as ``cuz.''

ELIZABETH MAGNESS

Norfolk, Nov. 5, 1996 by CNB