Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet
By William Shakespeare. Pavilion Theatre Castle Hill (NSW). Director: Peter Rhodes. Set design and art: Peter Rhodes. Lighting Design: Sean Churchward. Fight Trainer: Karin Kennedy. June 1 – 23.

The curtain opens to reveal two poster-strewn, red brick walls and an alley way. One wall proclaims “Montague” in huge, blue graffiti-style letters; the other, “Capulet” in stark orange. There are four silver beer kegs, some scaffolding and dimly shining street lights. It’s simple, but striking and sets the perfect mood for this fast moving, contemporary production of Shakespeare’s best known, and probably most performed play. Interspersed with modern music grabs – and Romeo’s tweets on a large computer screen – the language of the Bard still sits well!

In costumes colour coded to the graffiti, the cast projects the underlying fierceness of the family feud in the first fight scene. Carefully choreographed and rehearsed, it is fast and furious, and totally believable. Romeo’s lovelorn moaning over lost love provides a time of quiet contrast and introspection … ‘til he hits the Capulet party! Here a fast, full cast dance segment is a high spot of the production.

With careful and relatively fast, rearranging and addition, the scaffold becomes the balcony, allowing some moments of inspired direction and carefully controlled acting. Romeo (Jack Crumlin) and Juliet (Jessica Paterson) make this scene, which is so well known and so oft’ quoted, fresh and new and very pretty to watch. They establish the chemistry that is necessary to make the characters their own – and make their relationship believable.

Supporting them is a large and busy cast of seventeen, some who play double roles, some who also manipulate the scaffolding. Annette Snars, who plays Lady Montague, is also the Stage Manager.  As director, Peter Rhodes has developed this large group  – some who are new to the community theatre stage, some who are much more experienced – into an ensemble that realises his vision and steps into the pace he has set.

Of that cast, Robert Snars is energetically enchanting as Mercutio. In sharp contrast is Jawad Beedar’s darkly brooding Tybalt. Sandy Valeni as the Nurse is charmingly funny and busily protective, as is Stephen Snars, who, as Friar Lawrence, gathers the lovers to his fold.

Todd Beilby, as Paris, is suitably aloof from the feuding and devastated at the loss of his fiancée. Marc Kay (Lord Capulet) and Phillip Lye (The Prince) bring experience and an obvious love of Shakespearean language to their small but important roles.

Rhodes has brought the love story that has triumphed for over five hundred years into the 21st century – and given his cast the opportunity to play the Bard on a very contemporary set in a very contemporary way.

Carol Wimmer

More Details.

Click here to check out the electronic version of the May / June edition of Stage Whispers for free.

Subscribe to our E-Newsletter, buy our latest print edition or find a Performing Arts book at Book Nook.