Oh, Romeo, where for art thou? Romeo is everywhere in this production. He and the rest of the characters leap, run, hide, jump and frolic around the minimalist set with tremendous energy. This energy escapes into the audience.
We sit on the edge of our seats, looking here there and everywhere. The actors are up the aisles, then sitting in a spare audience seat, then racing behind the audience and reappearing down another aisle. Who would have thought a tragedy could be so much fun?
The audience sits in raked seating on three sides. The fourth wall is a black shiny surface that partially reflects the action playing out on two 30cm high platforms, both about four by four meters and about 150 cm apart.
The audience feels up close to the action. So close, that during the party scene, characters invite audience members to join them in the dancing, to the delight of all.
And so, ‘the scene was set for the most famous Shakespearean tragedy. The two- and half-hour play doesn’t seem that long in the hands of Director Peter Evans.
There are well choreographed sword fights. How many hours did they practice fencing to get it so realistic? Thankfully the four murders and two suicides are not gruesomely realistic. There is no blood and gore.
For the Shakespearean devotee or theatre purist, note that there are three gender switches. Paris, Mercutio and the Prince are played by women. It hardly matters because they were played so expertly. And, in Shakespeare’s day, men played women. Now women play men.
All the acting is outstanding but special mention to two in the cast of ten. Lucy Bell plays Nurse with much physical energy and emotional intensity. Blazey Best plays Murcutio, with wonderful physicality.
Jacob Warner is Romeo, Rose Riley is Juliet, James Evans is Capulet, Alex King is Paris, Robert Menzies is the Friar Laurence, Kyle Morrison is Benvolio, Monica Sayers is Lady Capulet .
Director Peter Evans’ creative team includes Fight Director Nigel, Anna Tregloan for the clever minimalist costumes, and Benjamin Cisterne for the lighting. Max Lyandvert is the composer and sound designer. The modern loud music played as the audience enters the theatre and during the interval create an edgy atmosphere.
Perhaps edgy is a good tag for this Romeo and Juliet. ROMEO AND JULIET plays the Neilsson until the 27th August 2023. It will then tour to the Arts Centre in Melbourne.
Production photography by Brett Boardman