Joy Watters reviews 'a triumphant fresh take' on a classic play.
The Globe Theatre has taken to the road with an extensive UK and European tour, arriving at Dundee Rep this week with a triumphant fresh take on the tragic tale of Romeo and Juliet.
It is the first time the Globe has been to Dundee, giving audiences a flavour of the approach and staging techniques of the unique London theatre, dedicated to the exploration of Shakespeare’s work.
This new production is a scaled-down version with just eight players. They, with the exception of Romeo and Juliet, are called upon to tackle several characters apiece, impressively changing roles in a trice as the story of doomed love and vengeance rapidly unfolds.
Globe artistic director Dominic Dromgoole, assisted by Tim Hoare, has created a moving and highly accessible version of the tragedy.
Set on an Elizabethan-style booth stage, complete with creaking floorboards, the action shifts between two levels. The cast occasionally moves into the auditorium, initially welcoming the audience before taking to the stage for a rousing opening song and dance.
At the centre of the production stands Cassie Layton’s Juliet, a luminous performance which displays a sheer joy in the magical poetry of the Bard while ensuring this is a lament for teenage love which stands for all time. Layton’s delivery is such that at times she could be a contemporary teenager, raging against her parents and screaming with girlish glee when marriage to her Romeo is promised.
Samuel Valentine, making his Globe debut, movingly captures the earth-shattering pleasure and pain of first love and Romeo’s agony at being caught in the crossfire of the warring Capulet and Montague families.
The pair work beautifully together towards their terrible demise, followed by a jarring leap off their deathbed to join in a jolly final song and dance.
Sarah Higgins’ Scottish nurse is a lovely touch with the accent fitting the role perfectly.
The production may have its occasional weaknesses but the relish of the cast for Shakespeare’s work ensures it is overall a richly rewarding piece.
At Dundee Rep until Fri July 17th and Glasgow Theatre Royal August 4th to 8th.
RSS