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:

22 December 2004

There’s been a reluctance to cast Romeo and Juliet with actors approaching the age of the characters. It’s understandable that directors shy away from casting 13-year olds as Juliet – one can take verisimilitude too far - but there have been too many occasions in the past when the central characters have been played by actors more than 20 years too old.

This is not an accusation that can be levelled at Peter Gill’s production of arguably Shakespeare’s most well-known play. Matthew Rhys and Sian Brooke are a most attractive and youthful pairing. Rhys is especially impressive as a hot-blooded Romeo, and Brooke, shaky at first, visibly grows in confidence throughout the play. There’s some good support too. Gideon Turner is a charismatic Mercutio, long on charm although he loses some of the character’s bitter wit. And there’s an excellent Nurse, courtesy of June Watson.

There are still some strange directorial touches. Leo Wringer’s otherwi...

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Latest User Review

194.83.242.250) - 16 January 2005:

There is no chemistry between Romeo and Juliet....

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