Review: Romeo & Juliet Perfect Winter Warmer

Friday, 25 July 2008, 2:15 pm
Article: Scoop Review

If you and yours need a warm escape from the weather-bomb this weekend, then Scoop would advise checking out Romeo & Juliet performed by the Royal New Zealand Ballet.

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This performance is akin to an artist expressing his/her paint over a broad canvas. It isn't some two-bit back alley sketch that takes five minutes. Act I introduces the cast, allowing time for the audience to admire the setting, costume design is impeccable, and stage set a clever surrealism that transports you back to the time of this age-old play.

But there's a twist to the tale that bridges to tomorrow. It's amazing how a simple pair of modern-day glasses can help us who dwell in the 21st century to understand centuries old original tragedy.

The Auckland Philharmonia performs live offering Prokofiev’s dramatic score in a most moving form. The music carries the dance. The story explores the emotions of youth.

Romeo & Juliet stars guest dancers Amy Hollingsworth and Cameron McMillan in the lead roles. Both former Royal New Zealand Ballet dancers are now based in London. And this performance provides a marvelous opportunity for these two stars to demonstrate old world artistry at its best.

By Act II Hollingsworth and McMillian capture their audience. It's an intimate connection that draws deep into emotions we all share. Their athleticism is often overwhelming, their art expressed through form seems to bring one closer to the true Romeo and Juliet characters.

At times, particularly in Act III, the romance of love spills over into erotic realism that literally casts the audience silent. Their shape, colour, humanity founds a performance that is often raw, angry, tactile - telling a story of how rivalry and ism entwines with lust and want, spilling over into loneliness when hope of love seems elusive.

This is Romeo & Juliet for both those who are well versed and not so acquainted with Shakespeare. This performance leaves one mulling over the moral of this tale. The message lingers for quite a time. It's a perfect contemplation on a wild winter's night.

Honestly, this is a must see performance.

ALSO:

Royal NZ Ballet's Romeo And Juliet 'World Class'

Friday 25 July 7:30pm

Saturday 26 July 2:30pm & 7:30pm

Sunday 27 July 6:30pm

Book at Ticketek 0800 842 538

Adult $35 - $85 Child $21 - $51

Concession $31.50 - $76.50

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