Star Crossed Lovers

Honestly, I can not count the many different renditions of Romeo and Juliet that I have seen on both of my hands, let alone in combination with my toes. There have been films and productions that capture the same story, some following the exact script and some that try to modernize the situation and place it in today's time. It is always the same story, just different players with different faces and names. William Shakespeare has become a legend for mapping out such a tragic, yet well loved story. I wonder what he would think if he were to see all of the twists and changes we have created when trying to retell his crafted love story. Would he be accepting to the performance that I saw tonight at Daytona State College? I don't know what his opinion would have been, or if the live version I saw tonight did him any justice at all, but I can speak of what I thought, felt and saw. Of course, I am no Bill, but at least my opinion belongs to me and my own name... take from it what you will.

The Performance Venue: Stage VS. Audience

I felt that the theatre used for this production was an akward choice. As an audience memeber, I felt that the characters were too close to me and that I was practically on top of the stage, (even sitting in a far back row). Or maybe it was that the stage imposed on my space in the audience. I can see that the director may have wanted it this way to make the audience feel as though they were a part of the action, or maybe he used it to draw them in to the performance more. I think that this could have been accomplished still with more space between the audience and the thrusting stage, and/or maybe having the stage slightly elevated. Having such a close proximity made me feel like I was looking into a snow globe while also being inside of it, and if a character stepped out of bounds or broke a moment, the snow globe was beginning to break. I hated it. It really distracted me... and as the first intermission came about, I noticed other people must have lost interest too because the number was cut down by a third... and this was originally a full house.

The Set

I like the color scheme on the set. I enjoyed seeing the suttle tones that really highlighted romance. The lighting for the production was also enjoyable... for example, when Romeo stepped out with Juliet the morning of his exhile, as the sun rose, you could really see day light coming up on stage.

As for the construction... I liked the concept, but I felt like this might have been too small or maybe even too limited for the type of stage given. There were really great levels, but the levels didn't cheat out enough from EVERY ANGLE. This made the spaces un-playable for some characters, and I noticed this as I kept watching them move about.

Scene Changes were very minimal... and the pieces moving in and out were very few. Though the set pieces and props were ornate and played up the story and theme, I wanted to see more. For example, Juliets bedchambers... I know the audience can normally see a few pieces and be accepting of what they are, but I felt like such bold colors like the red, should be strewn through out the stage. Maybe adding another chair behined her "bed?" would have added more... or maybe a vase with flowers. A small touch, but something that ties it all together. Also, perhaps making the colors gold or a deep purple to match the Capulet colors would have been a better choice.


Costumes

I enjoyed seeing the Capulets and Montaques in the same colors. I really enjoyed the period choice and Elizabethan theme. However, this was pretty big for such a small set and stage. I also wanted to see Julet dressed up a little more on occasion. Though she matched the theme, I felt that her costume was too... separtated from her overall beauty. It just didn't flow.

Acting:

BRAVO! Shakespeare is one hard lion to tame and that was a fantastic attempt! Not at one moment did I ever see a line drop. Even in the most tongue tying lines, the character's kept their composure and didn't stumble. They kept moving along. They were easy to follow in the story. On that note, I did feel that in the opening act, the energy level was low and that it took me awhile to get into it. Maybe this was because I was so bothered by the stage though. I also felt that some key lines could have been played better... for example, Juliet could have used more emphasis on funny lines such as "or any other part that belongs to a man". Juliet's mother also lost me a few times. I could not understand what she was saying. I could hear her, I just couldn't make out the words. For Romeo, I felt that he could have emphasized a few things a little better as well. This could have been done for both by using a little more body languange. NONVERBAL communication is the most common. I have to say Mercutio was my favorite actor... and then the Nurse. They got emphasis, body language and line delivery down. This has to be hard for shakespeare. And God love the Friar. He was so humble in his performance, yet firm. I believed in him.

My last note would be for the actors and director/choreographers. Why weren't more dynamics used on stage during dialogue and monologue moments? I wanted to see Romeo sit on the stairs, lean on the wall... other characters too. MOVE MORE. If I can believe Juliets bed is a small sofa, then I can believe that the castle serves other purposes in other settings. It shouldn't be forbidden territory for blocking. I was really dissapointed with this.

I would enjoy seeing this production again, but maybe in a bigger theatre with more of a separation. I think this might open the characters up to more options also.
Ah, well... like I said, I am no Bill.