Review: The Brown University/Trinity Rep Consortium's Romeo and Juliet

Founded in 2002, the Brown University/Trinity Rep Consortium provides a three-year professional training program for eighteen students. Brown University's Department of Theatre, Speech and Dance is internationally recognized for the quality of its faculty and instruction. Trinity Rep, with its deep tradition of resident artists, provides powerful artistic assets and creates a firm foundation for a new generation of theatre artists The Brown University/Trinity Rep Consortium stands among America's most acclaimed professional graduate training programs.

 

This production of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is the directing work of Alex Torra, a third-year MFA directing student in collaboration with a cast of second and third-year acting students.

 

If his work last night is an indication, Alex Torra is a fearless director. I like a fearless director. That he chose Romeo and Juliet, one of the most-loved plays ever written, to direct for his thesis, was fearless. His reworking of well-known characters was fearless. Removing the well-known phrasing, rhythm and cadence of Romeo and Juliet was fearless: disappointing, mostly, but fearless. 

 

The tone of the production is set by it London Punk-inspired costumes, hair and props. Hair designed ranged from, multi-colored, glitter glue spikes for Romeo to scary skinheads for the ensemble. Costumes for the younger characters included sleeveless tees, tight jeans, spiked leather chokers and bracelets and Chuck Taylors.

 

Of the major players, we first meet Mercutio (Meagan Prahl). This Mercutio is a hotheaded, street-smart, young woman. Mercutio will draw her sword at the slightest provocation. Shakespeare's words as written, became street lingo with un-lady-like connotations, coming from Ms. Prahl's mouth. Mr. Torra's direction of Ms. Prahl is, singularly, where his interpretation of Shakespeare soars. It was disappointing to know that Mercutio dies in a sword fight before intermission.

 

Craig Handel's fight choreography and its execution were about as good as it gets. The fights were big, with more than a dozen participants at times. The moves were intricate and the action was realistic.

 

Romeo (Jordan Kaplan) is played as an over-privileged child of over-indulgent parents. Mr. Kaplan re-creates the wide-eyed wonder of a teenager in love. Stubborn, rash and brash, this Romeo is played without introspection or doubt.

 

I never quite get used to the fact that Juliet (Jessica Crandall) is 13 years old. It is in Juliet's character where I most missed the romance of the traditional, Shakespearean phrasing. Juliet's dialogue is some of the most beautiful poetry ever written. This dialogue was rushed through: as if it was just words. With the poetry and romance missing, it is never quite clear why she and Romeo fall in love.

 

As the plays comes to its inevitable conclusion there is a scene in which the Nurse (Beth Hallaren) and Lady Capulet (Tina Chilip) spread dirt from buckets in an outline of where Juliet' body will be laid in the family crypt. This action, though it takes place downstage happens as background to the scripted action. The despair of the situation is intensified by the unscripted action that takes place.

 

This production of Romeo and Juliet is probably not for Shakespeare purists, but we should all be happy that the Trinity/Brown Consortium has produced another fearless director.

 

 

Romeo and Juliet runs March 23-26, 2006

 

www.trinityrep.com

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