I’m a big theatre fan,
which means that I mostly look out for what plays are showing in London.
Recently however, I’ve started to notice dance shows as well, and for example
the exciting dance companies coming to Sadler’s Wells in the next few months.
The latest show to open
at the Peacock Theatre is Romeo and Juliet, directed by Rasta Thomas and
choreographed by Adrienne Canterna, creators of the dance sensation Rock the
Ballet. What is unique is that they’ve used their innovative style to tell
the timeless tale of star crossed lovers. The all-American company invites us
to an evening of fun filled with classical (Vivaldi) and contemporary pop tunes
that make you transition from tears to laughs.
The story is told through
the classic story’s youth in two acts, with only ten dancers filling the stage.
The characters are first individually introduced to us
I think my favourite
moment is at the Capulet ball, when Romeo and Juliet have their first
encounter. It is beautiful, innocent, and exciting.
There is always an
effort to make the dance movements as natural as possible, to highlight
specific moments and feelings: this is the case when Juliet daydreams about
Romeo in her room or when the two lovers spend the night together after Romeo
kills Tybalt. The body language, again, really is what matters the most and
what brings the audience completely into the moment, forgetting that Act 2 has
darkness in store.
We do notice that signs
of death are looming around, through costume and the violence between Caputels
and Montagues. There are many moments when the two gangs reminded me of the
Jets and Sharks in West Side Story.
There are some fantastic fighting sequences between the young men.
This is definitely a night
of fun: the song choices, from Jay Z and Usher to Katy Perry and My Chemical
Romance seem random at first, but the lyrics are always precisely chosen. We
can see how this production is filled with love, how the dancers are putting
their hearts into this story. There are some truly breathtaking dancing
sequences, such as the Boys’ trio or the Wedding. The contemporary music also
helps to lift the story to a new timeless level, away from Vivaldi.
This is easy to say, but
I wish there had been live music, so that the transitions from a classical song
to a contemporary song could have been smoother. The help of instruments could
have created a beautiful transitioning effect and less of a fracture.
While the musical
transitions are just a little detail, the costume choices are not always the
best. Romeo’s sheer trousers could have been changed for something that
reflected the story’s darkness more. Juliette’s ball dress hides
The dancers were all
exceptional. Preston Swovelin as Romeo was at ease and very natural, which fit
perfectly with the show's style. I would have loved to see even more solos by
him. Ivan Gomez and Jarvis McKinley were a perfect energetic team as Benvolio
and Mercutio and Ryan Carlson as Tybalt was delightful as a Shark-like tough
enemy of Romeo. Those jumps! Finally, Adrienne Canterna as Juliet showed her
wonderful range and was mesmerising.
Despite a few random
elements, this was a fun evening which mixed humour and good beats to remind us
that Romeo and Juliet will never go out of style.
Rating: ★★★★
Review by Sophie Tergeist
