Review: Riveting Twists from Seattle Immersive's ROMEO + JULIET

I'll be honest, there were several elements that gave me trepidation before seeing Seattle Immersive Theatre's current production of "Romeo + Juliet" the other night. The immersive nature of it (seems to be the resurging trend and not always done well), the idea of tromping around an abandoned storefront, and the fact that while I love Shakespeare's "Romeo + Juliet" I've never actually seen a production I truly liked just to name a few. But all my fears were soon dashed as I entered a superbly crafted realm housing the best production of the play I have ever seen and culminating in a theatrical experience I'll remember for years to come.

It's one of Shakespeare's most well-known and well-worn plays surrounding those star-crossed lovers, separated by feuding families. I won't bore you with a rehash of a story anyone over the age of 10 should know in some form or another. Instead we'll discuss what made this production GREAT!

First let's deal with the environment itself. I must commend scenic designer Paul Thomas for converting an old CD store into a multi-location, gorgeously appointed Verona. Sure it was clear they were sets but super well done sets including a full courtyard and church that almost felt like they had been in the back of this store all along for some mysterious reason. And very few remaining hints that we used to be able to get the latest Madonna album there.

Next let's focus on the immersive nature of it all. Reminiscent of the hit "Sleep No More" in New York, audience members adorn masks making them otherworldly presences around the town. Occasionally interacted with but largely ignored we are granted a fly on the wall viewpoint of this tragic tale. But the progressive nature of the show as well follow the action from one locale to another lends itself perfectly to raising the stakes of all that's going on. Especially during the big battle as cast members kept us onlookers at a safe distance which only amped up the danger of the situation. And truly one of the best fight sequences I've seen in some time.

And then there's the production of the play itself. Director Emily Penick not only found a cadre of actors who could get behind the meaning of the show and not just spout off the pretty words but also managed to infuse a modern day bent with some cross gender casting. A bent I might add that didn't just have, for instance, Romeo performed by a woman but also subtly yet powerfully added in a gender fluidity element to the character. Maybe not transsexual but at least definitely transvestite and a woman gender-identified as a man but still very Romeo.

And then there's this fine ensemble that managed to bring every ounce of honesty and importance the play provides to the forefront. Each of them fully invested with each other. Katherine Jett's strong willed Juliet made the choices of this lovelorn young girl seem absolutely reasonable and perfectly matched to the passion supplied by Marianna de Fazio as her lover Romeo. The face off between Ryan Higgins as Mercutio and Melissa Topscher as Tybalt went beyond simple swaggering loyalty and with the gender switched casting and character choices became part fight and part foreplay. And both of them managed some truly inspired turns in their final moments making me long for them to live this once so we could see more of them. Lorenzo Roberts took Benvolio's often thrown away speech relaying the events to the Prince and made it absolutely heartbreaking. And kudos to Colleen Carey as Lady Capulet, Carter Rodriquez as the Nurse, and Dylan Smith as Paris for infusing some wonderful lighter moments, but never becoming the buffoons, and right there in the thick of the tragedy when called for.

So I said before I've never seen a production of "Romeo + Juliet" that I liked; well now I've seen one that I LOVED! And so with my three letter rating system I'm giving Seattle Immersive Theatre's "Romeo + Juliet" a fully immersed WOW. This show managed to fire on all cylinders and then some and I can't wait to see what they do next.

"Romeo + Juliet" from Seattle Immersive Theatre performs at the old Silver Platters building in Queen Anne through March 18th. For tickets or information visit them online at www.seattleimmersivetheatre.org.

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