In Shakespeare’s love story, Spider-Man Tom Holland would not have had much difficulty climbing the walls of the Capulets’ villa in Verona and reaching Juliet’s balcony.
But ultimately, Jamie Lloyd’s audacious, mournful production, which opened last night in the West End, requires only that he stand at the dizzying height of a microphone stand.
Yes, this new production of Romeo & Juliet is a typical example of Lloyd’s celebrity minimalism, following in the footsteps of James McAvoy in Cyrano and Nicole Scherzinger in Sunset Boulevard.
As usual, that means a run on the microphones in the capital for a production that is whispered – and sometimes only inhaled – into the amplification system.
As usual, that means a run on the microphones in the capital for a production that is whispered – and sometimes just blown – into the amplification system
The sunshine of beautiful Verona, where Shakespeare paints his scene, has disappeared.
Instead we get the Stygian darkness of Soutra Gilmour’s set design – empty except for lighting rigs and a giant cinematic billboard showing close-ups of the action as cameramen follow actors on stage and around the building itself (Romeo’s banishment to Mantua takes him to the roof).
The play is famous for its preoccupation with death, and Lloyd makes the most of it, with a cast dressed in black jeans, T-shirts and hoodies. It’s monotone, monochromatic and mannered. If you could feel the pulse of the production, you might be tempted to call a priest.
At times it even feels as if Lloyd is deliberately trying to choke the life out of the feverish passion that normally drives this breakneck love story. And yet, the hour comes, the (Spider) man comes… already 1.73 meters tall.
Damn, he’s a muscular and handsome guy. His impressive cheekbones and crooked jaw suck the breath out of the audience and keep us captivated by his dreamy gaze.
Instead we get the Stygian darkness of Soutra Gilmour’s set design – empty except for lighting rigs and a giant cinematic billboard showing close-ups of the action as cameramen follow actors on stage and around the building itself (Romeo’s banishment to Mantua takes him to the roof)
It is monotonous, monochrome and mannered. If you were to take the pulse of the production, you might be tempted to call a priest
At times, it even feels like Lloyd is deliberately trying to choke the life out of the feverish passion that normally drives this breakneck love story. Pictured: Daniel Quinn-Toye stars as Paris
Nima Taleghani (photo) stars as Benvolio
I missed the color of the masked ball where Romeo and Juliet meet, and the drama of the sword fight when Romeo disastrously kills Juliet’s cousin Tybalt
After meeting Juliet, he does a jig like a football player celebrating a goal, but otherwise moves with the precision of a cat. And while silence suits him best, the shy smiles he showers on his beloved are worth a million dollars, in Hollywood terms. Under the circumstances, Francesca Amewudah-Rivers holds up well as Juliet.
Lloyd discourages her from showing too much personality or an independent spirit (as he does with everyone else), yet she has a quiet maturity that fits easily with the poetry.
Likewise, Michael Balogun as Friar Lawrence imposes seriousness and common sense on the not-so-hasty young lovers. The only surprise is Freema Agyeman as Juliet’s youthful nurse.
Normally Nurse is spacious, older and talkative, but here she is a thirty-something with an attitude. Much of her chatter in the Bard’s original is cut and instead she gets lines from Juliet’s mother, who has controversially been dumped altogether.
I missed the color of the masquerade ball where Romeo and Juliet meet, and the drama of the sword fight when Romeo disastrously kills Juliet’s cousin Tybalt.
But we may not get the chance to see the Netherlands live on stage again if Hollywood has its way. That’s how happy those who already have a ticket for this remarkable but almost sold out requiem are. And even luckier are those who can afford £275 each
Pictured: Tom Holland as Romeo
Freema Agyeman (in the photo) plays the role of a nurse