Something has to be said for a script that’s remained entertaining since publication 400 years ago. However, what comes with four centuries of production is the slight issue of how to re-work the classic ‘boy meets girl, they fall in love, they die’ storyline. Thus, we found ourselves at the lovely little theatre above The Gatehouse in Highgate to see how director Zoé Ford’s staging, set in 1960s Brighton, played out.
With the pier as backdrop, and a convincing tension between the Montagues and Capulets as mods and rockers, the cast delivered consistently absorbing performances, underlined by small touches like Lord Capulet’s mobster accent (David Vaughan Knight). Both Maya Thomas and Benjamin Ireland, as Juliet and Romeo, delivered their signature monologues with skill, Thomas’ emotion raw and tender. And in what to us seemed like an astute bit of casting, the marked height difference between the two main players further made clear the fragility of Juliet, underlining that she is just a young girl in Shakespeare’s work.
There were excellent comedic turns from Rosalind Blessed as the Nurse, Robert Durbin as Benvolio and Alexander Neal as Mercutio, with Blessed’s outrageous character serving up a roll call of cheeky winks and nudges. Durbin and Neal both brought humour to their roles through their bantering, whilst Tabitha Becker Khan’s turn as the aloof Lady Capulet was the embodiment of uncaring mother.
While definite nods to the 1960s resonated through The Who’s soundtrack – used sparingly yet effectively – there wasn’t, however, a huge feeling of being down on the pebbles. And despite the pier, the famous balcony scene was done in a low-key manner, its drama lessened compared to other productions I’ve seen. Yet the only really jarring part of the entire performance was a choreographed section: whilst intense, it was simply too long and too odd.
But we never once felt bored or checked our watches – no mean feat for a 2.45 hour performance. So if you’re even the slightest fan of the bard’s work, or just fancy strolling up the hill one evening for some culture, this certainly should be near the top of your list.
Words: Conor Fisk
