Romeo and Juliet
Gamm Theatre's second show of their 25th season is William
Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet". It is considered to be one of the
greatest works of romantic literature. Written in 1591, it is a story of
deep passions which come out as love or violence, the tragic tale soars
with the poetry of heartbreak and doomed but perfect love. Director Tony
Estrella sets the play in the late 16th century, but it can also be seen
as a contemporary play with gang violence, emotionally absent parents,
generation gap frustrations, reckless youth, unbridled passion and
torrid romantic love. Tony casts his show splendidly and the set design is
by Sara Ossana with a unit set of two stairways and the center section
doubles as the tomb and other locations. The comic and dramatic
moments of the show sparkle and shine with his 21 member cast.(Some funny
moments include the first time Juliet is meeting Romeo, she yells at the
Nurse while still talking romantically to him and also Mercutio kissing
the Nurse and Peter during a confrontation scene.) The fight
choreographer, Norman Beauregard does a fantastic job with
the opening Greco-Roman wrestling match between Mercutio and
Tybalt, the dagger fights and the pratfalls in this show and
they are all brilliantly executed by this energetic cast
while costume designer David T. Howard captures the spirit of the
16th century with his remarkable costumes including the women's gorgeous
gowns. Charles Cofone supplies the music of the time period including
madrigals and ominous music during the fight segments especially
impressive is the closing song "Blackbird" sung in harmony by
the cast while stage manager Marc McClure keeps things running
smoothly onstage and backstage.Bravo!
Tony starts the show off with shouts of down with the
Capulets and down with the Montagues then the lights come up on
the wrestling match to show how the families are life long enemies.
He includes the needed exposition in the first act for
first time audiences which contains the party scene and some sexual
innuendo segments that are very comical. But it is Tony's prowess as a
director that make the dramatic moments soar at the end of the first
section with the deaths of Mercutio and Tybalt and the dynamic second
section that will impress even the seasoned Shakespearean theatre goers.
Tony is also a topnotch actor and he shines in whatever theatre
endeavor he pursues. Romeo and Juliet are played wonderfully
by Aaron Rossini and Amanda Ruggiero. They make the transition from
carefree youngsters into dramatic adults beautifully. Aaron's
love scenes with Amanda are tender and romantic while his scenes with
the Friar crackle with electricity as her scenes do with her parents, the
nurse and the Friar. When the Nurse finds her dead in bed, Wendy, Tom and
Karen make it into a heartbreaking scene leaving the audience in
tears.
Two of the most outstanding performers in this show are Jim
O'Brien as Friar Laurence and Wendy Overly as the nurse. Their vocal
prowess with this language and their reactions to the other performers are
astonishing. Jim's emotion packed lines are wonderful to listen
to as he stops Romeo from killing himself and concocts the plan
to make Juliet appear to be dead with a potion he gives her. Jim excels
in dramatic and comic roles. Wendy's dramatic and comic lines
are delivered brilliantly. She has many comic moments with
Amanda while chasing her around the stage, forcing her to rub her
back and a very comical one with Chuck Reifler as Peter where she
constantly yells at him and hits him with her fan. The most poignant
moment Wendy has is when she finds Juliet dead in her bed, her shrieks of
sadness will bring tears to your eyes. Other powerful performers include
Tom Gleadow as Juliet's overbearing, wealthy father, Karen Carpenter as
her mother,(They do a fantastic job in the argument scene with Amanda and
their emotional breakdown at the supposed death and the actual death of
Juliet are astounding.) Kelby Akin as Mercutio, Romeo's friend and
confidant (he has a funny drunken scene and is a hoot when he kisses Wendy
and Chuck but his death scene where he says a plague on both your houses
is very dramatic) and Steven Kidd as Tybalt, the hot headed Capulet
who challenges Romeo to a duel after he crashes the party. Their
scenes are fantastic especially their death scenes with dynamic knife
play and absolutely riveting is when Steve is stabbed in the throat
bleeding to death. What a show stopping and horrifying
moment. Chuck Reifler is hilarious as Peter, a dimwitted servant who
gets the crap beaten out of him by the nurse. His comical expressions
and inability to read the guest list as Peter are topnotch. Kyle
Blanchette plays the ill-fated Paris who wants to marry Juliet. and
veteran actor, Sam Babbitt is the Prince of Verona who uses his
strong commanding presence in this show with his powerful baritone
speaking voice to demand an end to the violence, he banishes Romeo after
Tybalt's death and closes the show with powerhouse lines. (Sam is an
excellent actor who I had the pleasure of appearing with back in 1987 in
"Shenandoah".) So for a trip back to the days of yore, be sure to
catch this spectacular version of "Romeo and Juliet" as Gamm presents
another outstanding show in their 25th anniversary season. This group
always does topnotch shows and this is one more feather in their
cap.
ROMEO AND JULIET (22 October to 29 November,
2009)
Gamm Theatre, 172 Exchange Street,
Pawtucket,RI
1(401)723-4266 or www.gammtheatre.org