Review Roundup: Kenneth Branagh's ROMEO AND JULIET

The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company presents Romeo and Juliet, the fifth production in the inaugural Plays at the Garrick season. The cast features Lily James (Juliet), Richard Madden (Romeo), Derek Jacobi (Mercutio), Meera Syal as the Nurse. Romeo and Juliet opened at the Garrick Theatre on 12 May until 13 August. Press night was 25 May. The production will be broadcast live to cinemas on 7 July.

Let's see what the critics had to say:

Daisy Bowie-Sell, WhatsOnStage: Jacobi is infinitely watchable in a humorous, delicate way. The only problem with having him onstage is that he highlights how a lot of the cast struggle with the verse. Next to Jacobi, Richard Madden's Romeo is limp and disinteresting. Madden, a buff, quiffed ladies man - who turns into a giddy, smiling goon when he falls for Juliet - is OK, but he rushes through the text and just can't inject his speeches with any potency.

Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph: As beautiful as a Botticelli painting, James has captivated millions as the spirited Lady Rose in Downton Abbey, and gleamed brightly too as the vivacious Natasha, heroine of the BBC's recent War and Peaceadaptation. As handsome as a Michelangelo statue, Madden is best?known for having played the butch Robb Stark in Game of Thrones and stripped-off for the role of hunky gamekeeper Mellors inLady Chatterley's Lover.

Holly Williams, The Independent: There's a bright freshness to their initial attraction, rather than dangerous electricity - and although they got some big Hollywood snogs in, Branagh's direction keeps them curiously apart at first: during the balcony scene (more of a floor-level terrace), Madden peculiarly spends much of the scene with his back to his love. Branagh does, however, nicely inject some humour: Juliet's giddiness is, in part, due to the champagne bottle she's necking. Drunk in love indeed.

Michael Billington, The Guardian: The big draw is the casting of Lily James and Richard Madden, who played opposite each other in the Branagh movie of Cinderella, as the doomed lovers. They acquit themselves very well: they have youth, looks and passion on their side. I was puzzled, however, by some of the directorial decisions that mean we miss Juliet's rapid maturation from inexperienced child to married woman. James's Juliet seems very knowing from the start and when Romeo says "she doth teach the torches to burn bright" you wonder if it is because she is at the time huskily crooning a song in the style of a torch singer.

Quentin Letts, Daily Mail: And in luminous Lily James - Lady Rose in Downton Abbey - he has found the perfect Juliet. Miss James sees off a challenge from Sir Derek Jacobi, camping it up splendidly as Mercutio, to steal the show in this respectful yet inventive production. She is beautiful, yes, but she brings so much more to the part.

Photo Credit: Johan Persson

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