Romeo and Juliet
Eagle’s Nest Theatre
16 May 2009
Northcote Town Hall
Eagle’s Nest Theatre give inexperienced and emerging actors the opportunity to get their teeth into some significant works and substantial roles, they bring new experimental works to the stage, and they perform VCE texts so that students get the chance to experience a a real play. Naturally, Shakespeare always gets a run and Romeo and Juliet is the Nest’s current hatchling.
For all that is great about this company, for their support of local artists, their passion and their determination, this Romeo and Juliet falls short.
Shakespeare is still performed today because his stories are some of the best every told. His reflection of human nature, of dilemma and of consequences is what all storytellers strive for. Each day there are experienced professionals destroying Shakespeare, because it’s so hard to get right. Productions with, generally, young and inexperienced casts, deserve a lot of forgiveness but this type of casting only works when there is a clear and shared vision for the production and a very strong director to guide them.
This Verona is Mod V Rockers 60s UK, but the interpretation went no further than costume and some fun-for-the-cast dances. The 60s culture and attitude didn’t permeate any other aspect of the production and I didn’t believe that their different music choices embodied any ancient and bitter rivalries. It may have been more authentic to have a more neutral setting in order to focus on the story.
There were many Direction 101 hints that could tighten the story and create the pace that was missing. Entrances and exits were sloppy and Act 2 lost tension simply because each scene started too early and ended too late. The drama is there, slowing the pace and extending the moments is what loses it.
Performance wise, everyone needed help with where to address soliloquies (the spot on the floor technique didn’t work), and the miming gestures should have been tempered, because we know what thrust, teat and even vessel mean, and “love’s light wings” – one of the most beautiful phrases ever written – never deserves little arm flaps.
I saw this show on what may have been their worst performance, as there was a very loud drag show next door. Every soul on that stage deserves a big hug and an even bigger drink for just getting though. Juliet especially, for, as she poisoned herself, we heard a queen singing (I swear this is true), “If I can’t have you, I don’t want nobody baby”. However, Romeo and Juliet is such a story that nothing should be able to distract us and this production needs to stop trying to be so original in order to concentrate on understanding and telling the story.
This review originally appeared on AussieTheatre.com.
