[NEohioPAL] Review of "Romeo and Juliet" at GLTG

[Bob Abelman]

The beauty's in the language at Geauga Theater

GLTG's Romeo and Juliet is true to Shakespeare, powers past its few flaws

 

Bob Abelman

News-Herald, Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Geauga Times Courier

Member, International Association of Theatre Critics 

 

This review appeared in the News-Herald 2/6/09



It is nearly impossible to create an illuminating production of a play as familiar as Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.  Nonetheless, theatre troupes continue to try.



Some thrust the Montagues and Capulets into a different time and place than originally intended to emphasize relevancy.  Others strip away artifice by eliminating time and place and rendering the play in a black box arena with minimal production values.  In the name of innovation, versions of Romeo and Juliet have been cast with same-sex leads, infused with interpretive dance or turned into a multimedia experience.  



At the end of the day, the play's the thing.  A traditional rendering of the world's greatest love story is all that is required and, more often than not, is best appreciated by theater-goers.  Such a production can be found in Chardon as performed by the Geauga Lyric Theater Guild.



In classical costuming by Kelly Miloro on a beautiful stone pillared set by Jim Koehnle, the GLTG players strut and fret their nearly three hours on the stage in true Elizabethan fashion.  Under the astute and fluid direction of Mark Cipra, this first-ever Shakespearean production by the GLTG is quite an achievement.  



Sure, the absence of accents is a bit conspicuous, as is the appearance of swords only for fight scenes.  And, yes, the less-experienced actors gesture broadly and out of synchrony with their dialogue, as if it were a foreign language. But when Shakespeare's words are delivered in earnest, as they often are in this community theater production, the audience is immediately absorbed into this marvelous and timeless tale about "star-cross'd lovers."



The poetry of these words is immediately apparent and accessible when coming from the lips of Kelly Smith.  Here is a definitive Juliet, who is as adorable as she is intelligent, intent and intense.  Smith clearly gets this play, has mastered its language and rhythm, and exudes all the innocence, new-found desire and apocalyptic heartache that have made Juliet the universal poster child for teenage angst.      



Smith has set a very high standard for her fellow actors, including the spirited but comparatively dispassionate Nate Earley as Romeo.   His handling of the massive amount of dialogue in this play is downright impressive, but his opening night speed-reading delivery renders much of it without meaning or consequence.   All this changes, however, when Smith draws him so close that they breathe the same air and her eloquence becomes his.



This play is loaded with rich characters who are given superb moments.  Debbie Tapager, as Nurse, is particularly delightful.  She is more in her element doing comedy than poignancy, but she brings a wonderful and welcome energy to the stage upon every entrance.

 

Also delivering stellar performances are David Duffield and Civia Wiesner as Lord and Lady Capulet.  



In a bit of against gender casting, Angela Miloro plays Mercutio, Romeo's closest friend and advisor on matters of the heart and gland.  She brings a genuine tomboyish charm, physicality and vibrato to the role, which nicely complements Earley's soft-shelled Romeo and Randy Hansen's laidback Benvolio, Romeo's cousin and confidant.   Miloro's playfulness and expressiveness make her portrayal particularly enjoyable and memorable.



This is a fine production of Romeo and Juliet.  Its purity and clarity will capture the imagination of the many leery high school kids who will be shuttled to matinees and impress the regulars who typically come out for the musicals.

The GLTG has done a good thing by offering this play and placing it in the capable hands of Mark Cipra. 



Romeo and Juliet continues through February 15 at the Geauga Theater, 101 Water St., Chardon.  For tickets, which are $10 for students/seniors and $12 for adults, call (440) 286-2255 or visit www.geaugatheater.org.
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