On Stage: Romeo and Juliet

One of the most enjoyable aspects of a Melbourne Shakespeare Company outdoor summer production is hearing what music they have chosen to complement the show.

This is especially so as that music plays a major role in the company’s aim of making Shakespeare and theatre accessible to all in Melbourne.

While many of the plays staged over the years have highlighted Shakespeare’s comedies the company’s latest offering Romeo and Juliet has, of course, a far more tragic tone.

However, that doesn’t stop the efforts of the hardworking cast of 14 injecting some lightness and comedy into the first half of the 90-minute production.

Thus, music including Sunday Afternoon and Eye of the Tiger feature in the first few minutes of the production at Malvern’s Central Park. Then songs such as Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, Power of Love, Truly, Madly Deeply, God Only Knows, I Love You Forever and Everything I Own dominate the rest of the performance.

The reason for this selection becomes clear as director Emma Austin sees Romeo and Juliet as more than a tragedy. “It’s a celebration of passion, hope, and the complexities of love,” she explains.

Austin sets her production in 1940s Vienna. Before the play begins audience members are given official identify cards by cast members.

From there, through the power of words and music we learn that two powerful families – the Montagues and Capulets hate each other.  Thus, a young lovesick Romeo Montague (Oliver Tapp) falling instantly in love with Juliet Capulet (Marlena Thomson) is likely to end in tragedy.

This is especially true as Juliet’s father (John Voce) wants her to marry the County Paris (Asher Griffith-Jones).

While the two do manage to marry with the help of Juliet’s nurse (Amanda McKay), a street fight between Romeo and Juliet’s cousin Tybalt (Jacqueline Whiting), which also sees the death of Romeo’s friend Mercutio  (John Vizcay-Wilson) , results in Romeo being banished.

With Juliet’s imminent marriage to Paris, Friar Laurence (Karlis Zaid) hatches a plan which will allow Juliet to fake her death.  However, his message to Romeo telling him of his plan isn’t delivered, resulting in the death of both young lovers.

While much of the play is sad and serious, thanks to the work of McKay, Griffith-Jones and Vizcay-Wilson there are still some light-hearted moments, which the audience clearly enjoyed.

All others in the cast were also understandably warmly received with many recognising the challenges they faced in presenting such an intense work in a park on a hot March summer night.

Performances of Romeo and Juliet are scheduled for Malvern’s Central Gardens from Friday March 14 to Sunday March 16.  Visit the Melbourne Shakespeare Company website for more information and tickets.

*Photo credit: Sare Clarke Photography.

Jenny Burns attended a performance of Romeo and Juliet as a guest of the production company.