SHAKESPEARES R & J: Splinter Group, till 22 March
SHAKESPEARE'S R & J
(Romeo and Juliet adapted by Joe Calarco)
The Splinter Group
Runs: 2h 10m, Belgrade, till 22 March
Review: Rod Dungate, Belgrade, 19 March 2003
Exciting, challenging, sheer bloody magicJoe Calarco frames his cut-down R and J in a fascinating and meaningful way. Four boys are in a formal, militaristic school, one that preaches male superiority their regimented oppression suggested by their appearance (white shirts, ties, grey waistcoats and trousers, black shoes) as much as by their actions. They find and act out R and J their performance illicit, an act of defiance, a blow for freedom. So Calarco's context parallels the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet who defy both society and parents in their love affair.
Michael Fagin's spare setting is blacks, a few chairs and chests, one long scarlet gauze (it's a knife, it's poison, it's a dress, it's blood.) In this economy lies the production's power, direct appeal to our emotions and sheer bloody magic.
Quite extraordinary. The two worlds (boys' and play's) constantly separate, collide, merge and part again. Each shift enables the production to comment on the play and the play to comment on our world today.
There is something powerfully American about this. The boys' characters built solidly from within never disappear: their speaking of the verse has a chunky quality, it is natural yet melodic and accurately phrased.
Actors and director are totally at one with their material and what they aim to do with it. When a pale blue translucent screen is flown in revealing shadow figures for the balcony scene the effect is poetic. The actors' presentation of the boys' relationship with the R and J story (particularly the sexual elements) is sensitive it grows from prurient to dangerous and passionate. This assists the young audience for it is almost their relationship with the play.
Excitingly multilayered, challenging and exciting.
Student 1: Matthew Sincell
Student 2: Jason Michael Spelbring
Student 3: Jeremy Beck
Student 4: Jason Dubin
Adaptation, Direction: Joe Calarco
Design: Michael Fagin
Lighting: Chris Lee
Costumes: Amela Baksic
Sound: Brian Keating
Assistant Director: Monica Henderson
2003-03-19 16:53:43