To Scarborough for the ever-satisfying Northern Broadsides Theatre Co doing “Romeo and Juliet” at the Stephen Joseph Theatre. First time for me to this very smart conversion of a former cinema where the main auditorium is arranged in the round. The play had been put into contemporary clothing — more or less — and effortlessly appeared to be about contemporary people. Juliet in particular was played as a very young teenager of today — with lots of the mannerisms — emphasising how young she is and inexperienced and naïve. Tybalt was interesting too — extremely aggressive and constantly spoiling for a fight but actually an incompetent fighter, easily outclassed by Mercutio who could have killed him straightaway but doesn’t. So Romeo’s impetuous intervention is completely unnecessary. Typical of this callow youth of instant passions and swift, unthinking decisions and rash acts. The clog-dancing is done at the Capulet’s ball — a great evocation of a family thoroughly enjoying itself (and a theatre company doing so too).
All in all, one of the best R&Js I’ve seen — though not perfect — I could have wished Mercutio less down-to-earth and the fathers more stricken at the end.
