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'Romeo and Juliet' by William Shakespeare. Presented by The Stratford Festival

Now on stage until October 26 at the Festival Theatre, 55 Queen Street, Stratford

Credit: David Hou. Pictured: Jonathan Mason and Vanessa Sears

Joe Szekeres

“In this current production of ROMEO AND JULIET, there’s a sense of re-assured predictability because the story remains solid with this cast of up-and-coming artists performing with seasoned veterans."

As a retired 33-year Catholic high school teacher who understands how to bring literature to life in a secondary school setting, Stratford’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ becomes the ideal production for young people to be introduced to the world of Shakespeare. If this is one’s first time experiencing the play, you’ve made a good choice.

With her unique and thoughtful choices, Director Sam White breathes exuberance, freshness, vitality, and boundlessness into the story right from the Prologue, creating an intriguing experience for the audience.

The play opens with two feuding families – the Capulets and the Montagues – who have been at odds for years. On a hot summer afternoon, a fight breaks out again between both families. Prince Escalus (Nick Dolan) arrives just in time to avert disaster but issues a stern warning. If the families spark one more fight, their lives will pay forfeit for the peace.

That evening, the Capulets prepare to host a ball at which his lordship (Graham Abbey) will present his daughter Juliet (Vanessa Sears) to the suitor Paris (Austin Eckert). Romeo (Jonathan Mason) from the house of Montague and his friends Mercutio (Andrew Iles) and Benvolio (Steven Hao) crash the party in disguise. Romeo has been hopelessly lovesick over Rosaline. His friends hope that by seeing other girls, Romeo will forget about Rosaline. That event does come to pass. As soon as Romeo sees Juliet, all thoughts of Rosaline vanish.

Tybalt (Emilio Viera), Juliet’s beloved yet hot-headed cousin, sees Romeo enter uninvited and wants to fight him. Capulet sternly advises the hot-headed Tybalt not to do such a thing since Romeo is not causing trouble.

When the party breaks up, Romeo leaves his friends and rushes to Juliet’s balcony, where they declare their love for each other. Juliet advises Romeo to make plans for marriage secretly at Friar Laurence’s (Scott Wentworth) chapel, with the holy man and her Nurse (Glynis Ranney) knowing what’s going on.

Friar Laurence advises Romeo: “Wisely and slow/they stumble that run fast.” More valid words are strongly spoken as the world the young lovers envision for themselves does not come to pass.

There’s a sense of predictability and re-assuredness about this current Stratford production.

That’s a good thing. More about this near the end.

Sue LePage has returned to the traditional and simple set design of the Festival Theatre, which I recall from years ago when I attended my first production as a high school student. This simplicity allows the audience to focus on the plot and the characters' emotional growth. Ensemble members seamlessly bring on and remove set pieces and props. LePage’s lovely and colourful costume designs are reminiscent of the 1968 Franco Zeffirelli film version. Louise Guinand’s seductive mood lighting during the balcony scene effectively heightens the youthful intensity of the young lovers' strong feelings. Several of Debashis Sinha’s sound effects hauntingly echo throughout the auditorium.

White has assembled a cast of Stratford veterans and new company members who succinctly capture what the play encompasses: an energetic, fun, entertaining beauty with love, levity, and banter. When the tide shifts and great sorrow erupts in Verona, the story captures the frightening and sad tragedy of events that spiral out of control when unresolved, age-old conflicts and youthful, impressionable lives intertwine.

The casting choices are solid.

Graham Abbey is a stern presence as Capulet, who believably ranges in emotional authenticity from a loving and doting father one minute to a feared parent the next. Jessica B. Hill’s youthful-looking Lady Capulet strongly emphasizes what life was like in Verona then. Young girls were seen as trophy wives.

Emilio Vieira is a fiery and emboldened Tybalt. Andrew Iles’ flights of fancy as Mercutio are one of the production's highlights, especially his handling of the Queen Mab speech. As Benvolio, Steven Hao’s eyes convey plenty about the goodness in his heart, especially when he wants to tell the truth.

As the trusted adult role models for the young lovers, Glynis Ranney’s bawdiness as the Nurse still makes me smile. Ranney conveys tremendous warmth and compassion, especially in the second act when the story turns quickly and Juliet faces the unknown. Scott Wentworth’s Laurence remains a calm and dignified figure of hope for Romeo for as long as possible. I find it interesting that a line from the Prince at the end of the play is missing when he acknowledges that the friar is still a holy man even though he has made some grave errors in his actions.

The one unusual choice at first is Nick Dolan as Prince Escalus. For some reason, I couldn’t connect how his youthfulness as a leader would stand up against the commanding Graham Abbey’s Capulet and Michael Spencer-Davis’s Montague.

I then smiled at how coy Director White’s casting decision in selecting Dolan became apparent at the end of the play. His youthfulness in addressing adults who should know better heightens the tragedy even more. I heard a young girl behind me sobbing, indicating that White’s casting choice and staging worked. Theatre is to move us emotionally, as it did for that young girl behind me.

As star-crossed lovers, Jonathan Mason and Vanessa Sears convincingly capture the intense fickleness of youthful love. Sam White chooses not to capture that intimate moment from the 1968 Franco Zeffirelli that still haunts its Juliet, Olivia Hussey. Instead, Sam White trusts that Mason and Sears lovingly and longingly speak to each other and that the suggestion of the intimate moment they have just experienced off stage lingers as they enter fully clothed.

That trust given to Mason and Sears at that moment is solidified, as far as I’m concerned.

Thoughts from a retired and certified Ontario teacher: Director Sam White wisely stages this ‘Romeo and Juliet’ as it should be—predictably, meaning that one will expect certain things to be delivered.

Predictability for teachers can also bring assurance that things will get accomplished.

For example, when I taught ‘Romeo and Juliet years ago, it was predictable (and expected) that the 1968 Zeffirelli film would complement the teacher's efforts to bring the play alive for students. I know there are other versions (1996 Baz Luhrmann is one), but I chose the former.

As a well-known television show once said, “Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”

To the best of their professional ability, teachers could be assured upon finishing the ‘Romeo and Juliet’ unit that they had done their best to try and encourage young people to enjoy and appreciate one of the Bard’s works.

Yes, teaching strategies have advanced into the 21st century. However, sometimes predictability ensures students (and audiences) receive the best possible understanding of the play.

This current Stratford production accomplishes this goal. Director Sam White and this cast have set out what their vision intends—to enjoy, experience, and learn something in the process. White even says in her Director’s Note that’s the beauty of this play.

Neither she nor the cast should feel any qualms about its predictability.

I have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending that schools studying the play this fall make a trip to see this current production. A side note to teachers: If you have shown the Zefferelli film to students to allow them to see and hear the story, there’s no need to do that if you bring them to this current production.

Running time: approximately two hours and 50 minutes with one interval/intermission.

‘Romeo and Juliet’ runs until October 26 at the Festival Theatre, 55 Queen Street. For tickets: stratfordfestival.ca or call 1-800-567-1600.

The Stratford Festival presents
‘Romeo and Juliet’ by William Shakespeare
Directed by Sam White
Set and Costume Design: Sue LePage
Lighting Design: Louise Guinand
Composer and Sound Designer: Debashis Sinha
Fight and Intimacy Director: Anita Nittoly
Choreographer: Adrienne Gould

Performers: Graham Abbey, David Collins, Howard Dai, Nick Dolan, Thomas Duplessie, Austin Eckert, Steven Hao, Graham Hargrove, Jessica B. Hill, Jenna-Lee Hyde, Andrew Iles, Jasmine Jones-Ball, John Kirkpatrick, Derek Kwan, Tarique Lewis, Jonathan Mason, Marissa Orjalo, Glynis Ranney, Antonette Rudder, Vanessa Sears, Michael Spencer-Davis, Emilio Vieira, Scott Wentworth, Rylan Wilkie, Angus Yam.

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