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June 22, 2007
Romeo and Juliet revisited
Bard production highlights the humor in this tragic romance.
CYNTHIA RAMSAY
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is a tale of young, tragic
love. And, indeed, this year's Bard on the Beach production of the
play may bring tears to your eyes – but more likely from laughing
than crying.
As the Montagues and the Capulets feud and Romeo and Juliet fall
in love amid the hatred of their respective families, the vulgar
taunts and jokes of Romeo's friend, Mercutio, and the lustful insinuations
of Juliet's nurse break the seriousness. They create a layer of
levity that's not normally highlighted in productions of the romantic
tragedy, but which Bard on the Beach plays to the hilt, with success.
Bob Frazer as Mercutio and especially Lois Anderson as Nurse –
it would have been nice for Shakespeare to have given such a key
role a proper name – bring a lot of energy and humor to this
latest reincarnation of Romeo and Juliet. They use physical
comedy to their benefit and they make the Bard's words seem contemporary.
The only caveat is that Anderson, whose character is supposed to
be an elderly woman, looks only a few years older than Juliet (Taylor
Trowbridge) and runs around the stage with more zeal than her young
charge.
Kyle Rideout as Romeo looks like a rock singer and will make the
young – and not so young – girls swoon a bit, even before
he shows off his bare chest and buttocks at the beginning of Act
2. He and Trowbridge have a believable chemistry and they convincingly
play teenagers in love, capturing the highstrung excitement and
melodrama.
Jewish community member Michael Scholar, Jr., does a good job as
Juliet's contentious cousin, Tybalt, who sets off the catastrophic
chain of events that leads to the lovers' deaths. He could have
been a bit stronger, however. While he looks imposing and does his
share of yelling, his role in egging on the Montagues to the point
where there is a fatal duel is not that convincing – although
this is due to directorial decisions more than Scholar's acting
ability.
Overall, Bard on the Beach makes Romeo and Juliet new again,
and this is aided by the cutting of some scenes. As well, the acting
is solid all round and the judicious use of music and dramatic lighting
effects – such as when Romeo first sees Juliet – are effective.
The black and white costumes don't work as well. They make it harder
to discern the various characters from each other at the beginning
of the play. As well, the tight black jeans worn by all the young
men will make every Jewish mother in the audience wish they could
feed the actors after the show. They are all so thin!
Romeo and Juliet plays in the mainstage tent Tuesdays through
Sundays till Sept. 22. Tickets are $20-$31. Call 604-739-0559 or
visit www.bardonthebeach.org.
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