Romeo and Juliet

Synopsis

The story of frustrated young (illegally young in modern terms) love and death and the vendetta between two families in a tight-knit Italian community. One of Shakespeare's most popular and enduring dramas it has also been re-done as film, ballet, musical (most notably "West Side Story") and ice spectacular!

Our Review:

25 May 2004

The Globe's season of star-crossed lovers begins with the most famous pair of all in this Elizabethan-style production from Tim Carroll.

He takes the action at breakneck speed - there's almost a farcical feel to the play as scene quickly follows scene. It does mirror the whirligig nature of Romeo's mind as his affections shift from Rosaline to Juliet - as well as the rapid turnaround in Juliet's situation.

Tom Burke's Romeo is a serious-faced young man. Certainly, one can imagine him having deep-seated feelings for the objects of his affection, there is a degree of melancholy from the outset. It reminds us of how close to a stroppy teenager he is - one can almost imagine him itching to have an excuse to kill himself, we can bet that the Montague household wasn't a happy one during his adolescence.

Kananu Kirimi's Juliet is more problematic. She has that breathy intensity of a girl in love for the first time, but seems a bit overwhelmed by some of Juliet's gre...

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Latest User Review

USER: Whatsonstage.com (212.219.63.82) - 20 August 2004:

moved to tears and laughter, this is amazing. saw it thurs 19 and the sword fighting was sensational as was James Garnon. Joyous. ...

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