Post by David J on Mar 1, 2016 13:08:29 GMT
This is Paul Hart's first production since taking over as artistic director at the Watermill Theatre, and judging on this and previously Jouney's End, I think the Watermill is in a safe pair of hands. He has worked with Propeller and he did direct The Tempest at the Watermill so he's not a stranger to Shakespeare
The place is fitted out in-the-round within a nightclub setting. You have the usual actors-musicians set up but the music isn't intrusive. Incidentally Johnny Flynn, currently in Hangmen, composed the music and I was tapping along occasionally during the pre-show.
Apart from a few inconsistencies (why send banished Romeo to Guantamino Bay?) Paul Hart has fitted the play nicely into this modern, downtown setting.
The cast consists mainly of young actors recently graduated from drama school and a lot of them do a sterling job. Lauryn Redding and Peter Mooney threatens to steal the show as the Nurse and Mercutio. Mercutio's Mab monologue for one turns into what felt like an acid trip.
The cuts to the text to fit in the music and some well directed choreography doesn't help some of the actors. Rebecca Lee does a good job as Friar Lawrence but her scenes feel rushed at times.
Sadly next to Stuart Wilde's youthful Romeo, Lucy Keirl looks more like his elder sister than Juliet. Also Wilde's enthusiastic delivery of the text makes Keirl's precise delivery sound like she's just reading the text
So the heart of the play isn't quite fulfilled. But ultimately Paul Hart shows great potential as artistic director.
The place is fitted out in-the-round within a nightclub setting. You have the usual actors-musicians set up but the music isn't intrusive. Incidentally Johnny Flynn, currently in Hangmen, composed the music and I was tapping along occasionally during the pre-show.
Apart from a few inconsistencies (why send banished Romeo to Guantamino Bay?) Paul Hart has fitted the play nicely into this modern, downtown setting.
The cast consists mainly of young actors recently graduated from drama school and a lot of them do a sterling job. Lauryn Redding and Peter Mooney threatens to steal the show as the Nurse and Mercutio. Mercutio's Mab monologue for one turns into what felt like an acid trip.
The cuts to the text to fit in the music and some well directed choreography doesn't help some of the actors. Rebecca Lee does a good job as Friar Lawrence but her scenes feel rushed at times.
Sadly next to Stuart Wilde's youthful Romeo, Lucy Keirl looks more like his elder sister than Juliet. Also Wilde's enthusiastic delivery of the text makes Keirl's precise delivery sound like she's just reading the text
So the heart of the play isn't quite fulfilled. But ultimately Paul Hart shows great potential as artistic director.