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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>The beauty’s in the
language at Geauga Theater<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">GLTG’s <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Romeo and Juliet</I> is true to Shakespeare,
powers past its few flaws<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Bob
Abelman<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT
size=3>News-Herald, Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Geauga Times
Courier<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Member,
International Association of Theatre Critics <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>This
review appeared in the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">News-Herald
2/6</I>/09</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT
size=3></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=3>It is nearly impossible to create an illuminating production of a play as
familiar as Shakespeare’s <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Romeo and
Juliet</I>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Nonetheless, theatre
troupes continue to try.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=3><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=3>Some thrust the Montagues and Capulets into a different time and place
than originally intended to emphasize relevancy. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Others strip away artifice by eliminating
time and place and rendering the play in a black box arena with minimal
production values.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In the name of
innovation, versions of <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Romeo and
Juliet</I> have been cast with same-sex leads, infused with interpretive dance
or turned into a multimedia experience.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=3><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><FONT
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">At
the end of the day, the play’s the thing.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>A </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">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.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Such a production can be found in
Chardon as performed by the Geauga Lyric Theater
Guild.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>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.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Under the astute and fluid
direction of Mark Cipra, this first-ever Shakespearean production by the GLTG is
quite an achievement.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><FONT
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><FONT
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Sure, the absence of
accents is a bit conspicuous, as is the appearance of swords only for fight
scenes.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>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
</SPAN><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN">“star-cross’d
lovers.”</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>The poetry of these words
is immediately apparent and accessible when coming from the lips of Kelly
Smith.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Here is a definitive Juliet,
who is as adorable as she is intelligent, intent and intense.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>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.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Smith has set a very high
standard for her fellow actors, including the spirited but comparatively
dispassionate Nate Earley as Romeo.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>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.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>All this changes, however, when Smith draws him so close that they
breathe the same air and her eloquence becomes his.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><FONT
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><FONT
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">This
play </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">is loaded with rich
characters who are given superb moments.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Debbie Tapager, as Nurse, is particularly delightful.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She is more in her element doing comedy
than poignancy, but she brings a wonderful and welcome energy to the stage upon
every entrance.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><FONT
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Also delivering stellar
performances are </SPAN><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN">David Duffield
and Civia Wiesner as Lord and Lady Capulet. </SPAN><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>In a bit of against
gender casting, Angela Miloro plays Mercutio, Romeo’s closest friend and advisor
on matters of the heart and gland.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>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. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Miloro’s playfulness and
expressiveness make her portrayal particularly enjoyable and
memorable.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><FONT
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><FONT
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">This is a fine production
of </SPAN><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Romeo
and Juliet.</SPAN></I><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>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.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>The GLTG has done a good
thing by offering this play and placing it in the capable hands of Mark Cipra.
</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT
size=3><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Romeo
and Juliet<I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> continues through February 15
at the </I></SPAN><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Geauga Theater, 101 Water St.,
Chardon.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For tickets, which are $10
for students/seniors and $12 for adults, call (440) 286-2255 or visit <A
href=""><FONT
color=#0000ff>www.geaugatheater.org</FONT></A>.</SPAN></I></FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>