Mark’s Score 3.5 stars
Shakespeare’s immortal play stands up well under adaptation: Baz Luhrmann’s post- modern film, West Side Story, Prokofiev’s ballet (originally with a happy ending) and Berlioz’s opera, along with various other treatments of the play’s family feud drawn on ethnic and racial lines. There is little wonder why it is a favourite with schools both in study and performance as its tale of young clandestine love pitted against a denying society is the stuff of true romance and pure tragedy.
R&J is perfect fodder for this timely queer retelling for although there is a gay relationship at the centre the protagonists’ sexual orientation is neither referred to or balked at – it just exists. Romeo (Jackson Blair-West) and Julien’s (Jayden Byrne) love cannot survive solely due to the schism between the two families. How refreshing to experience a story of gay love without the usual tropes of denial, self-loathing or societal criticism. Director Jamie Collette and producers Chiara Osborn / Isabella Torv have assembled a fine cast with diverse talents. Daniel Gabriel is an energetic Mercutio, David Soncin a sympathetic Paris, Lord and Lady Capulet (Charles Mayer and Sasha Dyer) are a free-wheeling couple on the surface but trouble lurks underneath. David Halgren’s “Friar” Lawrence is most engaging while Ryan Hodson (Peter/Samson) is enthralling to watch, proving the adage “there are no small roles etc”. Ali Aitkin’s Nurse is well realised as this tragedy’s fool and provides wittily pointed lines throughout. As the star-crossed lovers Byrne and Blair-West are charming and totally relatable.
The production is lengthy for a fringe show, notwithstanding I remained gripped by the various set pieces in the action. Director Collette ensures that the storytelling is clear and well-paced, as from the get-go Prince Escalus (Cynthia Howard) does say it will take a couple of hours to tell this tale. Fight Choreography by Scott Witt is well executed by all involved, chiefly Mr Gabriel (Mercutio), Chiara Osborn (Benvolio) and Samantha Lambert (Tybalt). Some of the staging is a little “off”, in particular the first encounter between R&J, obscured from my vantage point and the numerous location shifts were not needed. Mercifully for the most part they were covered by delicious songs sung by various members of the cast. Favourites from the director’s playlist they were played by Musical Director Vicki Watson, drummer Sara Delaware and Mr Dodson as lead guitar. However, the final death and discovery scenes are very evocative with Ms Howard nicely understated in uniting the families, noteworthy were the quite chilling ricocheting voices off stage calling for the Capulets.
It can be a scramble getting a Sydney Fringe show on and I am sure this was no exception. I enjoyed the rough and readiness on the opening night. Often audiences are not regular theatre goers, nevertheless they were hooked by this production. There is indeed a welcomed freshness and immediacy to the two hours (no interval) traffic upon the stage. See it and reignite your love for perhaps Shakespeare’s most performed play.
Mark G Nagle – Theatre Now
Romeo & Julien
107 Redfern Street, 107 Redfern Street, Redfern, New South Wales, 2016.
