Romeo and Juliet

Postcard Review by Caroline Russell-King

Show – Romeo and Juliet

Playwright – Adapted by Jamie Dunsdon from William Shakespeare.

Production Company/Theatre space – Community, The Shakespeare Company & CYPT at The West Village Theatre

Length – 2 Act (3 hours, 10 minutes, one intermission)

Genre/s – Tragedy

Premise – The Friar, out of time, re-tells the tortured story of teenagers (from warring families) who fall in love and don’t live happily ever after.

Why this play? Why now? – It’s always time for Shakespeare. At Calgary Young People’s Theatre, the 15-year-old lovers are played by people closer to their age.

Curiosities – How can we thank the actors if there is no curtain call? Doesn’t Romeo killing a young woman (playing Tybalt) give the piece a totally different tone? Wouldn’t one want to warn Juliet about red flags for domestic violence ahead?

Notable Moment – The lighting in the crypt was magic.

Notable writing – Shakespeare is brilliant and this adaptation works well. I got the impression that the Friar was in some sort of purgatory doomed to relive the tragedy over for his penance. This POV, while interesting, made the play seem longer. The epilogue which was tacked on the end was, however, very well written.

Notable performances – Adult professional actors Joel David Taylor, Ayla Stephen, Brent Gill, and Norma Lewis are great role models for a teenaged cast to learn from. Parker Painchaud tackles one of the greatest English roles ever written like a trouper. No smooth romancer, this Romeo awkwardly tries to win Juliets affections by being childishly goofy using his finger to make pistols and going, “pew pew”! Aven Dixon matches him moment for moment. Miles Chan as Mercutio crackles with energy and Nurse Annika Kealey, usually played by an older woman, really made the role her own.

Notable design/Production – Tauran has designed lights to perfectly support Dunsdon’s vision. Rebeca Toon’s costumes are reminiscent of the cast from Hair as she straddles modern with period touches. The simple set, elevated in alley, works very well. The box that doubles as bed and crypt is the best R & J set design I’ve seen in Calgary.

Notable direction – Well, the one thing these young actors have learned is energy and pacing! Sometimes the lines were spoken a little too quickly but better that than laborious and meandering. Equity pros Director Jamie Dunsdon and Fight Director Brianna Johnston are wonderful leaders and teachers, praise o’ both your houses.  

One reason to see this show – Timeless tale told well.