Romeo and Juliet
Matthew Bourne's
Romeo and Juliet
UK Tour - Milton Keynes
(Review Complete)
SYNOPSIS:
A re imagining of Shakespeare’s timeless story of star-crossed lovers whose doomed love affects everyone around them.
REVIEW:
I spent a wonderful evening at the Milton Keynes Theatre on Tuesday 5th September watching Matthew Bourne’s re imagining of the classic love story Romeo & Juliet. From the very first spectacular second, this ballet challenges every preconception of this story! Set in the Verona Institute which is some kind of Asylum for young people, the plain white, and yet, somehow hopelessly bleak set, pulls the audience in and makes everyone feel as though they are also inmates! There are barred gates, metal staircases and a white tiled wall that creates sinister shadows and reflections.
Cordelia Braithwaite is the most wonderful Juliet. She created the part in the original production and is such a tragic, abused character, made all the more poignant because of her ability to stay strong through it all. When she meets Romeo, played brilliantly by Paris Fitzpatrick, who has been brought into the Institute by his parents, their connection is immediate and passionate.
Their playing of the truly shocking final scene of the ballet was outstanding!
The whole cast are fantastic! The movement throughout is very complex from the small twitches to the acrobatic running up and down ladders and complicated lifts - all to great effect.
Terry Davies has re orchestrated Prokofiev’s original score for a smaller orchestra and it works excellently with the bleak setting of the ballet.
This is a truly wonderful piece of 5 star theatre and I cannot recommend it highly enough! It runs at Milton Keynes until 9th September and then goes on tour to the following places so catch it if you can at a venue near you!
Reviewer: Julia Rufey.