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Mustard Productions
Romeo & Juliet
Pacific Playhouse
19 – 30 August 2008
A review by Aisha Walters for EXTRA! EXTRA!
What can really be said about Romeo & Juliet? Everyone knows the story of the young lovers and their battling families and how their love leads to their tragic demise. Therefore any production of the play has a great responsibility to tell this old story with a new voice, Mustard Productions tried somewhat unsuccessfully to achieve this. Romeo & Juliet: The Lost Generation set the story against the backdrop of post World War I Britain, an era that lends itself well to the story, as the Capulets, and the Montagues are realised as ex-soldiers disillusioned by their war experiences who seek solace in their ‘band of brothers’. And the violence they inflict upon each other a learned defence to opposing parties. However here the similarities stop, although the programme mentions the effect the war had on women and their emerging independence, this was not at all reflected in the production. Director Alison Goldsmith’s production felt a little hasty, with her young lovers’ intense affection for each other feeling more like teenage lust than true love. This was not helped by Ben Fisher’s mediocre performance as Romeo. Throughout the entire play he did not display one believable emotion; in contrast Aimee Parkes portrayal of Juliet was a delight to watch. She had the charm of a headstrong girl in love and played both the light and dark moments of the play with delicate accuracy. Supporting Fisher and Parkes with a cockney accent was Sherry Newton as the Nurse, although she tried to turn in a decent performance as the affable maid of Juliet her accent make her difficult to understand and Andrew Thompson fared no better as the well spoken Tybalt. His clipped tone and petulant demeanour created a one-dimensional character. Brendan Jones’ however made an interesting Mercutio, as he embodied the setting of the piece, seeming frustrated with his lifestyle and loyal to his brotherhood. His death, if a little overplayed created a rare moment of pathos, representing the loss of another yet young man to needless violence. The simple set allowed the story to take centre stage, with poppies on the wall a nice touch that referred back to the play’s backdrop. However at times the small stage became overcrowded, which led to dramatic tension being lost in important scenes. Fight Director Toby Spearpoint and the company should be commended for the execution of his outstanding choreography. Although not an entirely unsatisfying evening, Romeo & Juliet: The Lost Generation had too many flaws to warrant a second viewing. Box Office: 07908 633 168 www.pacificplayhouse.com Tickets: £10.00, Concessions £8.00 Pacific Playhouse
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ary Couzens