Romeo and Juliet
Sherman Cymru, Theatre 1
Tuesday 7th October
During the interval I heard one audience member say “It’s
like Gavin and Stacey meets West Side Story”. I couldn’t think of a
better way to summarize Rachael O’Riordan’s take on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
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| The brilliant Sara Lloyd-Gregory as trophy wife Lady Capulet |
As the first show of the new season, O’Riordan’s first as
artistic director of the Sherman, there is a lot riding on this production.
Sherman Cymru has a big drive at the moment to draw in new audiences and
reinvigorate regular viewers and this is probably why Shakespeare’s most famous
romantic tragedy was selected for production.
The production is modern but timeless, with an inner-city
set, costumes from the last few decades and accents from around the UK. The
modern music is trying a little too hard to appeal to younger audiences, as are
all the skinny jeans. But still there is something really appealing about the
modern character portrayals and dark aesthetic.
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| Street fight - Benvolio (Linden Walcott-Burton) and Tybalt (Luke Elliot Bridgeman) |
The set, although physically impressive is a bit
restrictive, meaning large sections of the stage are left completely unused. It
far too unsubtly includes a poster of Baz Luhrman’s beautiful film Romeo+Juliet, the only poster still
intact on the wall. Although it’s being picky, little details like this are
distracting and draw attention away from the performances.
There are moments of brilliance. The set movement pieces
at the Capulet’s party are really interesting to watch and add a fascinating
disjointed feel to proceedings. The final scenes in the beautifully designed
crypt (in the orchestra pit) are distressing and emotional, made more powerful
by the ever present bloody shroud of Tybalt.
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| Chris Gordon and sophie Melville as the Star-Crossed Lovers |
The two young leads are always difficult roles play. Chris Gordon making his stage debut as Romeo
is a real find. His transformation from the moody youth of early scenes, to a
joyfully love-struck young man is truly engaging and his final scenes are
heartbreaking and honest. Sophie Melville also breathes new life into the 13
year old bride, Juliet. With her peroxide pixie cut and boyish style she is
completely relatable to a modern audience. Her valleys lilt, is at first, whiny,
making her seem brattish and quite frankly annoying. But in the second act her
words have more clarity than any other cast member meaning her monologues are
intelligently delivered and have real power.
With a double suicide and four other bodies piling up
it’s not the lightest of plays but much needed comedic relief came in the form
of the Capulet’s staff. Tony Flynn was a one man tour de force successfully
multi-roling the opening narrator, the Prince, the apothecary and the
wonderfully camp manservant Peter. Anita Reynolds portrayal of Juliet’s Nurse got
most of the giggles as she strutted around the stage in a pink velour track
suit and dramatic hair piece, uttering the Shakespearean words in a heavy
Jamaican accent. Sadly this humour came to overshadow some of the more intense
scenes, particularly annoying when entrances or exits upstaged the real action.
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| Tony Flynn as the shell suit clad apothecary |
Completely enjoyable but there’s something missing,
there’s no fire in the passion between the young lovers, there’s no punch in
the hatred between the two clans. Every actor was engaging but there seemed to
be a lack of unity in the cast as a whole.
An interesting and relevant take on a classic, worth
seeing especially if you are new to Shakespeare and want an accessible way to experience
the words of the Bard.
The show continues until Saturday 18th
October. To book tickets or for more info click
here.
