Reader Reviews
Romeo and Juliet (The Young Vic, Inner London)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | A very original and mostly entertaining production with a marvellous ending, but the first half is over-long and moves too far from the play. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (212.211.87.4) | 23 Oct 03 |
| Lot's of smiles and tears. Great show! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (213.78.167.140) | 14 Oct 03 |
| I thought that the play was so amazing i spent most of my time with my mouth open in amazement! I had heard that the play was going to be like a circus, but when i entered the stage i knew that it was going to be different, because of the traverse stage! i had never seen a play performed on a stage like that! I had previously seen a Romeo and Juliet at Norwich and i thought that it was so awful at i prayed that this version would be great! and it was! including the audience involvement, my drama teacher had a purple circle on her cheek after Peter had kissed her! and also Hans, was very good i felt so sorry for him when he was picked on for being late, but i knew that he was one of them when he did the leap frog! I loved the way that Juliet's hoop represented her room, it was so brilliant! I loved the alive Jesus, it was so funny that when ever no one was looking at him he would change is position! and also his song! i thought that the play was so good that i have already booked tickets to see it again before it closes, please if you can Romeo and Juliet cast, travel around the country and so that everyone can witness the wonder that is Romeo and Juliet! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (193.164.126.14) | 09 Oct 03 |
| Mr Shenton is predictably ungenerous in his review of Romeo and Juliet at the Young Vic which has been clearly sold as a piece of physical theatre performed in English by an Icelandic Company. The performers are drawn from theatre and dance. There are limitations in the delivery of the text, but Mr Shenton is patronising - to audiences of all ages - in suggesting that it might suit "younger audiences" rather than regular theatregoers. It is a shame he could note get beyond the unquestionable physical beauty of some of the actors (always a plus!) and appreciate the emotional and physical power delivered by numerous scenes in the production. This is rough theatre, and your critic should lighted-up and - whilst discouraging "purists" (who will certianly not enjoy the experience), he should give credit where it is due, and encourage those of us capable of enjoying "popular entertainment" as well as "high" culture, to try this R&J. Romeo, receiving the news of Juliet's "death" is one example of a perfect moment of theatre, where the event is interpreted with beautiful precision, as is the sequence in the tomb, before and during the death of Romeo. Not surprisingly, some actors struggle with the text, particularly in the intensity of the later scenes, but there is an over-riding vigour, charm and honesty about this production that wins through. Expect a piece of "naive", physical theatre and you will not be disappointed. And if you have been bored to death by Shakespeare in the past - give it a try! It does get better than this, but rarely is it more fun! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (80.1.13.29) | 04 Oct 03 |
| I just saw this performance tonight. (The first preview) .......What a show! These Icelanders are just incredible. They bring us all this good music and now this theatre performance that just shadows everything that we have been trying to do for ...... what?.. How many years? Well anyway.... this is just something you just have to see. I'm not kidding here. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (213.78.88.6) | 27 Sep 03 |
