David Ricardo-Pearce (Romeo) and Jade Anouka (Juliet) in Romeo and Juliet at the Octagon, Bolton
Photo by Ian Tilton
I went to see this productions of Romeo and Juliet on Monday (7th Feb 2011) having been quiet excited about it for some time...even though i was almost late, having been served by a waitress at Pizza Express that could only have been described a glacial (God Bless her! some people just don't have any 'GO' in them, do they?) we arrived at the theatre and got sat down just in time!
The play opens and the set is incredibly minimal, smoke and shadows fill the space with a shiny flooring that looks oily and hot. Romeo and Juliet present the Prologue and then we're off! The pace never falls and the actors charge the space with in an inch of its life... The show is in the round and on many occasions the characters address the audience (i felt completely in the action....would i be a Capulet or a Montague?), in the Balcony scene - Act 2: Scene 1 Romeo asked me and my friends:
Romeo: 'Shall i hear more, or shall i speak'
I wanted to say 'Yes! go get her fella' ...but i didn't.
The party scene starts with a school party kind of feel but soon merges into a rock out with electric guitars and a whole lot of dancing ...again a moment at which your legs itch and twitch to join in! The choice of 'crazy' spectacles instead of masks was a bit 'out there' but i went with it and particularly enjoyed Lady Capulets choice of eye wear ( a bit Dame Edna Everage!)...
The play continues to pick up pace and hurtle along as Romeo and Juliet fall fatally in love... David Ricardo-Pearce (Romeo) and Jade Anouka (Juliet) are so compelling to watch as a couple. The sparks fly from every word they speak to each other. I really warmed to Juliet's giddiness and loved all her speeches at the Balcony, for a black mental structure she didn't half make it look like home! the passion steamed right through the 'Marrage' scene to the point were i wasn't quiet sure if it had happened!
As the direction starts to change and tragedy sits in the theatre space there are so many brilliant things to say about all the cast, Kieran Hill's Mercutio swigs at beers and delivers the Queen Mab speech ( My Fav of Mercutios!) with a cock like swagger....when he meets his fatal end it feels like he is stole away from us to quickly, but i suppose its good to be let wanting more?
I was moved by Lady Capulet through out, her peacefulness and refined behaviour was so interesting and her heart ache incredibly real. Partnered with Capulet, what a force? He dominated in a charismatic lion type manner, Regal but feared. In the scene where he tells Juliet she has to marry Paris i felt truly scared for her at the hands of a man at the cusp of a dangerous temper!
This is fantastic production and completely engaging and not at all boring, it breaks a few preconceptions too (who could of imaged a Nurse like Michelle Colin's Gucci Shopping, high waisted trouser wearing Lady?) So please go and see it i you get the chance...supporting regional theatre is as important as brushing your teeth!
thank you for reading my 'Review' ...well really just my thoughts shoveled onto this blog..
peace out
Sam
x
the 'Real' review in the Stage: http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/31190/romeo-and-juliet
Production Details:
Romeo and Juliet
By:William Shakespeare
http://www.octagonbolton.co.uk/page/145/Romeo+and+Juliet/93#-Info
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