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Blending modern energy and tradition, an exceptional West End cast is set to put on a remarkable performance of Shakespeare’s timeless tale Romeo and Juliet in Manama.
GulfWeekly attended a dress rehearsal for the show, which takes on a classic story of love, catastrophe and hate, cleverly executed by Olivier Award-winning producer Paul Taylor-Mills and the distinguised cast.
Not only did the play capture the essence of the tragic story of two lovers from feuding families, the Capulets and Montagues, but it also had the crowd, comprised mostly of high school students, chuckling as well – which is always a plus.
Romeo and Juliet is a tale as old as 1597. And while the story may seem a bit cliché, it is impossible to overstate its cultural relevance, as countless directors and actors have reinterpreted it for a variety of mediums, from movies to the musical set to be staged this weekend.
If reading old-English and hard-to-understand plays isn’t your forte, I would definitely recommend Romeo and Juliet The Musical as the rendition simply tells the captivating narrative of forbidden love and intense passion, not only through acting and emotion, but through music, comedy and most of all true passion for the tale.
The modern soundtrack immediately stood out when some of the scenes were scored with well-known hits like Adele’s Rolling in the Deep and Taylor Swift’s Love Story, which I thought was a clever way to connect with those who may not be well-versed in the world of William Shakespeare.
The stunning West End cast - Joshua Coley, Holly Ashman (Juliet), Matthew Hartley, Danielle Combe, Nikki Biddington, Rhys Cannon, Grace Whyte and Theo Walker (Romeo) - each brought a unique perspective to the classic tale.
In many ways, their acting brought the age-old tale into the modern world, making it relevant to a wide variety of audiences.
Both the main characters knew how to command the audience, whether they were dramatising during a particularly emotional scene or singing their heart out to one of the play’s modern songs.
And of course, with every Romeo and Juliet live-stage enactment, the performance is only as good as its final, albeit tragic, scene. And here Holly and Theo truly stunned, evoking gasps from the audience.
At the end of the thrilling journey on which the cast had taken the audience, the performers received a well-deserved standing ovation, with thunderous applause.
I particularly enjoyed how the lighting crew were able to work with a fixed set, comprised of a set of arches, and with a projector, convey multiple locations.
In terms of sound, I found the microphones to be too loud at certain points, which affected the quality but overall, the performances were stellar, and each actor was able to work majestically around any limitations.
Personally, I think this story is one of the most beautiful and real stories ever told.
Modern renditions and spellbinding versions of the performance such as this one, allow for the story to be told to all generations until the end of time.
The classical play will be staged at the Cultural Hall and open to the public today at 11am, with an evening performance set for 7pm.
The last show will be tomorrow at 7pm.
Tickets can be purchased via manama.platinumlist.net.
- Julia Cassano
