Romeo and Juliet
Subject: Quicktake - "Romeo and Juliet" by Wm. Shakespeare
Date:Thur. June 22, 11:29 pm
Quicktake ROMEO AND JULIET (seen at Final Dress)
Brian Tuttle's 11:11 Theatre has generally presented his new plays in the intimate confines up the stairs at the Actor's Workshop on Summer St. Their naturalistic style, moved to the larger open space of Durrel Hall, works well enough for this modern dress "Romeo and Juliet," but seems a bit more like a workshop. Some of the cast need additional work on volume and verse-speaking, and the whole production, which clocks in at slightly over two hours even though edited. Pace and consistency should improve as the show runs. Director Tuttle takes a small role in the play and probably would have benefited from a strong assistant director/verse coach to improve things.
As the star-crossed lovers, Kerlee Nicholas and Melissa Baroni are interesting choices. He's best when moody and street smart, getting too close to yelling when emotional. She's consistently childish and occasionally runs on, playing against her physical presentation. However, their relationship is more believable than the brawling lovers seen earlier this season at the ART. John Ferreira's Mercutio comes closest to a Shakespearean presentation and his quite effective. Various roles have been changed and reduced. Emily Evans' Nurse is younger than usual and less humorous. Peter played by Rebecca Maddalo is just the Capulet's houseperson. The Montague street presence is coed; Fran Betlyon plays Romeo's Page, Balthasar. The director plays his father, which may be out of necessity. As Juliet's parents, Curt Klump and Diana Varco do well enough in these plot-essential roles. James Smith and Adam Harper have the airs for Prince Escalus and Count Paris. Jason Warner is more a plot element as Friar Lawwrence. The 21 person ensemble for this production is at least twice the size of many recent barebones productions.
The show features live music and songs by Lucas Carpenter backed by drummer John A. Brewton. These definitely help define the show as contemporary. Lighting and set are rudimentary but appropriate, though more of the action could be played closer to the audience. The death scene is, but setting it up is difficult. Bodies can be very inconvenient. The ending thus becomes a bit sketchy, especially the final discovery. Only Rick Lombardo's New Rep production last fall made the whole confusion work.
"Romeo and Juliet" by Wm. Shakespeare, Jun. 23 - July 1
11:11 Theatre Co. at Durrell Hall, Camb. YMCA
820 Mass. Ave., (617) 549 - 7770
11:11 Theatre Co.
posted by will at 1:06 PM
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