Romeo and Juliet... RSC Summer 2010 Performance

Saturday 21st August 2010 - CourtYard Theatre - Stratford Upon Avon

The performances which are given by the Royal Shakespere Company are always amazing. The emotions, the effects and the enjoyability of the show was second to none. The whole atmosphere of Stratford Upon Avon makes it a place that oozes theatre and performance. Quite rightly with the history of one of England's greatest playwrights being set in the Midland town.

Now on to the play.

The production of Romeo and Juliet, can be quite overdone, it is one of the plays that is well known by all through education, and other media productions such as the production starring Leonardo De Caprio. This production took on another interesting take. It started with what appeared to be a visitor to a tourist destination of the Capulet vault, headphones on and the story of Romeo and Juliet begins....

Sam Troughton and Mariah Gale play a phenominal performance with their love for each other, but it was JonJo O'Neil's performance as Mercutio that stole the show. With his wit, and banter delivered in such a way that it took breaths away, not only giving the speechs a new lease of life, but sounding amazing and acting amazing at the same time.

The group dances at the ball were performed with such ease and power that the play not only leaves lasting memories of the story but the individual climax points. The fight scene between the Capulets and the Montegues, with the flames was particularly poignant with the fire being felt in the circle.

The only slight let down for me personally is it seemed to be brought to the forefront time too oddly, although there was use of earphones right at the start and a digital camera which took pictures of the audience and was used in comparing Rosalind to other people right at the beginning. This seemed to fit and did not cause distraction, however the ending of it did with the play being brought right up to modern life with police and radios, and the families in modern day clothes. This seemed forced and left me questioning that then the actual poignance of the play.

Overall the cast were as fantastic as expected and not one member let them down. It was an incrediable perfomance to watch and be there to witness.