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Romeo and Juliet
Directed by John Risebero & Ben Horslen
Jermyn Street Theatre,
A review by Tanith Lindon for EXTRA! EXTRA!
One of Shakespeare’s best known tragedies, Romeo and Juliet follows the tale of two young lovers, mired in the violence raging between their families, to bitter consequence. While following the original Shakespearean text, Antic Disposition’s production takes on a modern slant, utilising contemporary costume and original music by James Burrows. The production opens on a haunting tableau of a funereal scene. Sheltering from the rain under looming black umbrellas, two families stare grimly towards the audience, before the play bursts into action. As a whole, the production is well cast, and the collective exuberance of the actors ignites the tale. Andrew Hayden-Smith and Ami Sayers as Romeo are Juliet are good looking enough to inhabit our teenage lovers and manage to convey a youthful naivety that can justify their impulsive actions. You do feel that they are ‘star-crossed’ rather than guilty in their woeful situation, which is essential to the tragedy. The directorial choices in this production are particularly good; Risebero and Horslen are creative in their interpretation of the text, plucking out a surprising amount of comedy (Shakespeare is full of puns that are frequently missed) and creating some very effective sequences of movement, such as that during the Capulets’ Venetian masked ball. The stage design (also by Director John Risbero) is minimal, focusing around a raised, steeped black rectangle which serves as balcony, bed, and tomb. Despite its plain black appearance, the set does hold some surprises, particularly combined with the creative use of lighting. The costume design was fairly simple; the most interesting examples being that of the power-dressing Lady Capulet and the Priest, who, dressed in black with long hair, a crucifix, and an ample supply of potent drugs struck me as something of an Ozzy Osbourne. Thankfully in greater command of the English language, Scott Christie developed the vital role of the priest with sensitive attention to his wisdom and passion for the situation of the young lovers. Multiple casting in this production bestowed those actors chosen with the chance to show off their range, which they did very well. Most notable were Chris Courteney (in the primary role of proud Montague), who transformed himself into a furtive vagrant as the Apothecary, and Brendan Quinn, whose raging Tybalt was followed by a hilariously clueless and somewhat deaf Friar John.
Philip Correia captures the essence of Mercutio as an outspoken joker, boisterous and playful, but nevertheless grounded by a great love and loyalty to Romeo. Despite great choreography (by Keith Ducklin) and passioned delivery, the fight scene between Mercutio and Tybalt fell a bit flat. For such a crucial turning point in the story, I think that the scene would have benefitted greatly from added music / lighting direction (as used elsewhere in the production) to build tension leading up to the fight. The scene gathered pace as Romeo joined in, but it felt that Correia was not given as much space as his talents deserve. Andrew Hayden-Smith finds hidden depths of grief just at the point when you begin to think that his Romeo is all sun and no shade. The natural smile lighting his face that has found him years of work presenting children’s T.V. is quick to crumple in the second act, and he gives some very dark and touching performances. The bond with Ami Sayers’ Juliet is tender and enlivened by the natural ease which she seems to have with her character. The monologue tracking her fears over swallowing the priest’s potion was particularly thought-provoking. The play ends by returning to the tableau that opened the production, giving a cleverly ambiguous finish. Will the Monatgues and Capulets bury their grudges with their children, or is their history destined to be cyclical?
Box Office 0207 287 2875 Jermyn Street Theatre, 16b Jermyn Street, London, SW1Y 6ST Box-office: 020 7287 2875 www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk
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