Juliet and Her Romeo

Synopsis

Developed since 1997 in collaboration with Minder producer Sean O'Connor, the production uses Shakespeare's text, but casts our lovers in their 80s, with their anxious children, not their parents, seeking to prevent an imprudent and costly match. What family has not wrestled with the question of how we care for our parents as they become older and frailer? Who will love them? Who will support them? Who will pay for their care? And with that care, what controls should we apply? If we have taken power of attorney, what about the freedom to fall in love, to give gifts, to marry unwisely?

Our Review:

Michael Coveney - 17 March 2010

“For never was a story of more woe, than this of Juliet and her Romeo.” The final lines of Shakespeare’s great romantic tragedy are spoken by the prince of a divided city. Here, it’s an epilogue to a faintly silly dust-up in an old folks’ home.

New Bristol Old Vic director Tom Morris traces the idea of an overage Romeo and Juliet back to his days at the Battersea Arts Centre, where he directed the worst production of Macbeth (with Corin Redgrave and Amanda Harris; how could it be so bad? ) I’ve ever seen.

But after his important and innovative stint at the National Theatre, where he developed Coram Boy and War Horse, this show marks a lively statement of intent in the old Georgian theatre, which has comfortable new stalls (alas, no central aisle) and a new thrust stage.

Bolstered by old favourites like “The Sun has got his hat on” and “Love Is, the Sweetest Thing,” R and J get cosy in ...

Read more of the review

Latest User Review

No reviews yet

Click here to add your review

Related Whatsonstage.com Articles

As Spring Arrives, the South West Comes Alive! More»