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Casting a new light on Romeo and Juliet

Date Posted: Thursday, March 01, 2007
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Presenting one of Shakespeare’s best-known and most-frequently performed plays in a fresh and exciting way is always a challenge but the Aquila Theatre Company managed to do it with aplomb.The New York theatre company, which is renowned for its innovative productions, pulled off a theatrical coup by having each actor learn all of the roles and then allowing the audience to choose who played what part, regardless of gender or age. In that sense, it harked back to Shakespeare’s days when the women’s roles were taken by young boys.It was a bold approach and there was a frisson of excitement as the audience wondered whether the actors had really mastered all of the roles.  And they had.There was certainly nowhere for them to hide as the minimalist staging, which consisted of a few chairs and some cloth backdrops, placed the emphasis firmly on the actors. Without elaborate sets or costumes, the dialogue came to the fore and the audience was able to focus on Shakespeare’s language. The cast, a mixture of British and American actors, were all superb and because their props were virtually non-existent, they had to rely entirely on their skills to create their characters. That was no mean feat considering they could end up playing one of half a dozen roles on any given night.

This was a dynamic, thought-provoking performance, perhaps not to everyone’s taste but definitely worth seeing for the sheer virtuosity of the cast.

Aquila will also be performing the Canterbury Tales. For more information visit www.bermudafestival.org

   

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