Programme
NBT's production of "Romeo and Juliet" enjoyed it's World Premiere in 1992 and in keeping with NBT's style, this is a rather more overtly theatrical version of the story than you are likely to have seen elsewhere, telling the story very eloquently with some delightful comic moments thrown in to lighten the mood. The work follows the conventional format, though it is a little shorter than most. An impressive set consisted of broken Roman walls and pillars that were moved around to indicate market squares, the chapel and the Capulet palace. The costumes consisted of colourful, informal peasant style for the Montagues, with much baring of chests for the males, and more formal militaristic styles in red and black for the Capulets. This difference was maintained in the dancing with the moves of the Capulets having a distinctly martial edge whilst that of the Montagues was more open and celebratory. The fight scenes are not so exciting to watch as in other versions I have seen, the Mercutio/Tybalt combat for example being reduced to a breif flourish of daggers (look elsewhere and you could easily miss the vital moment), but the deaths are more graphic and brutal, including a dying scream from Tybalt.
Tobias Batley and Hannah Bateman made a great looking couple as the star-crossed lovers. Hannah's Juliet was demure and exquisitely graceful, conveying a very real vulnerability tinged with a strong sense of confusion at her mixed emotions. Tobias, as her suitor, was strong and handsome, expressing the manly joy of youth tempered with a depth of emotion that, whilst intense, stayed short of brooding. Their pas de deux's together were passionate, intense and superbly executed with many graceful lifts and passionate embraces. During their first meeting at the Capulets ball, all the action elsewhere is frozen whenever they come together, not only focusing all attention on the couple but giving the occasion a real sense of timelessness and ethereality. Martin Bell and Sebastian Loe did great work together as Mercutio and Benvolio. Both were hugely charismatic and their boistrous male antics, particularly Bell's playful jousting with Yi Song's elegant but sinister Tybalt, were a real joy to watch. Georgina May, meanwhile, has shown an unexpected talent for comic character roles in recent productions and tonight, as The Nurse, was no exception. Her timing in the comedy moments is immaculate and her expression, when Mercutio caught her from falling by her inflated bosom was priceless.
As I have mentioned in previous reviews, one of the joys of watching this company on a regular basis is seeing the progression of talented young dancers as they work their way up through the ranks. With that in mind, one of the success stories of the moment has to be that of young Brazilian ballerina, Isabella Gasparini. Isabella recently featured in the Grand Pas de Deux from "Don Quixote" in the company's other current work, a mixed programme entitled "Romeo and Juliet," and shone as brightly as the Morning Star. Tonight, she had no named part but never-the-less distinguished herself from the rest as one of the Capulet girls/Juliets friend's - the lightness of her dancing and radiant smile again standing out like a beacon. Also worthy of mention from the corps de ballet was Lori Gilchrist, the only "Yorkshire lass" in this Yorkshire based outfit, who continues to make steady progress. As long as the company can continue to find and attract such budding talent it's longevity seems assured.
Throughout the piece, the feuding families of the Montagues and Capulets are well contrasted, so that it is clear not only from their costumes but from their movements to which family any of the protagonists belongs. The action is riveting and takes us on something of a roller-coaster ride from comical highs to intense and brooding lows, from moments of passion to moments of adrenalin inducing violence. All of which takes us to the moving finale, a moment of high drama to end an evening of memorable entertainment.
NB: Northern Ballet Theatre's rotating cast system means other cast members may play the roles mentioned above on your night of attendance.
An enthralling, dramatic and rich looking production with superb choreography and, of course Prokofiev's stirring music to pull at the heart strings.
Don Gillan - www.stagebeauty.net
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