Review: Romeo and Juliet, RSC, Newcastle Theatre Royal

Sep 30 2010 by David Whetstone, The Journal

A YOUNG sightseer is taking photos of an example of Verona’s architecture when figures of an earlier age emerge from the shadows and engulf him.

The young man is Romeo and thus we are sucked back into the world and the action of Shakespeare’s famous tragedy of love and loss.

Rupert Goold’s production straddles the then and the now effortlessly and the eponymous lovers, Mariah Gale’s Juliet in her little black sneakers, seem to be of any period you want.

Romeo, played by Sam Troughton, makes the fatal move from his own Montague clan to the rival Capulets after being smitten by Juliet at a ball.

I loved Juliet, too. She’s a feisty youngster with mannerisms, brilliantly observed by Gale, to match. She’s meant to be nearly 14. Who wouldn’t guess? Asked by her mum how she feels about marriage, she responds with a blend of disinterest and heavy scorn: “It is an honour ... that I dream not of.”

Shakespeare is notoriously wordy, but laughs are there in the pauses for a good actor to find.

The warring clans clash zestfully, the Capulets all in shiny black leather, as the ground spurts steam and flame. In contrast to Joseph Arkley’s uptight Tybalt, Jonjo O’Neill’s Mercutio is a garrulous tease – mocking danger and creasing up youngsters in the audience with a prolonged raspberry-blowing riff that I suspect was quite rude.

The indisposition of Forbes Masson was a potential blow but proved not to be as our own Peter Peverley stood in for him as sleeping potion provider Friar Laurence. He cocked up the plan, of course, which precipitates the startling deaths in the closing scenes.

But that is the hand Shakespeare dealt the poor friar – doomed to cause the demise of the couple he has secretly just married, and Peter delivered remorse with aplomb.

David Whetstone

VOTING begins today in the campaign – run by the Theatre Royal and The Journal – to find the North East’s favourite Shakespeare character and play. To be a part of Voting for Shakespeare, simply go to www.journallive.co.uk/culture and click on the link.

Shakespeare is notoriously wordy, but laughs are there in the pauses for a good actor to find