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Disclaimer:
The reviewers' opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of TheatreLouisville.org. |
Peer Reviews Romeo and Juliet A review by Kate Barry Entire contents are copyright © 2009 Kate Barry. All rights reserved.
You know what I like? Free stuff. You know what I really like? Shakespeare. You know what I love? Free Shakespeare. Every summer since my stint as a young apprentice with KSF, I have looked forward to the company’s interpretation of the Bard. After Curt L. Tofteland’s departure last year, I was very interested in how the Festival would carry on especially with the economy as it is. Picking Romeo and Juliet as the premier production for Anthony Patton, the new Artistic Director, proved that people still love Shakespeare in the Park and that nothing will keep audiences off of those green benches. If you don’t know the story of Romeo and Juliet, then you never took an English class in high school. But if you really don’t know the story, here’s a summary: boy meets girl, their families hate each other, boy and girl fall in love and get married and tragically die. Throw in some sword fights, a speech about Queen Mab and some poison and you’ve got one of Shakespeare’s most recognizable plays. Set in a Colonial Italian villa, the three hour unabridged tragedy kept a steady pace even with planes flying over head, babies crying in the house and random passers-by throwing in their proverbial two cents. Michael Judson Pace plays Romeo as a lovesick boy so overcome with emotions that reason sometimes escapes him. As Romeo discovers he has been banished from Verona for killing Tybalt, Pace displays raw anger and genuine distress like that of a teenage man. Where reason escapes Romeo for emotional acts of spontaneity, Juliet takes time to think. Julane Christiansen as Juliet was sweet and innocent yet wise beyond her years with self-knowledge. As I watched the balcony scene, I noticed several dates in the audience snuggling closer. Truly, the star-crossed love between the title characters was romantic, innocent and indeed a bit tragic. Just because this is a play about two kids hopelessly in love doesn’t mean they stole the show. Okay, maybe they did, but other characters were good too. Dathan Hooper, who plays Lord Capulet in this production, was the type of father you wouldn’t want to have in your family. Mean and conniving, Hooper may have caused a few boos from the audience as he horrifically explains to Juliet that she will be banished from the family if she does not marry the County Paris. Tiffany LaVoie plays the Nurse as a mother figure who gives Juliet counsel and support. A disappointing bit for me was in the first act, as Johnny Kinnaird, who plays Mercutio, begins his Queen Mab speech a low flying plane flew by. Distractions like this are to be expected of course from an outside theater but I would’ve liked to have heard the entire speech. Throughout the production, Kinnaird contained a delightful amount of youthful folly as Romeo’s clownish friend. As a self-proclaimed Shakespeare snob, I’d have to say that Bard’s romantic tragedy isn’t one of my favorites but this production was entertaining. The hopelessness of the title characters tugs at your heart no matter what age you are and you want them to run away together and live happily ever after. Sadly this doesn’t happen as we all know.
Romeo and Juliet 502-637-4933 www.KYShakes.org
Posted Jul. 1, 2009
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