Romeo and Juliet Previews- Page 6

[zepka102]

Posted: 9/5/13 at 9:29am

I saw the show last night and can't decide my feelings. I don't think it was as bad as I expected it to be, but they have work to do if they want a hit.

Orlando is decent as Romeo. He may not look the age he should be, but he is young enough to look in his 20s. I didn't find his monologues to be too weak. The motorcycle entrance was awkward and brought the scene to a stop. And yes, there was a moment when he walked out shirtless, so we had that for a good 10 seconds. The audience appreciated it.

I didn't find Condola too convincing as Juliet. She definitely was the quiet, but I found her volume improved as the show progressed. I had some trouble with her diction, which being in row T of the orchestra is needed. I usually sat a lot closer for In the Heights (practically lived there during the run), so that was new, but great sight lines.

I think the strongest acting-wise were Jayne Houdyshell and Chuck Cooper. Justin Guarini is underused, which obviously isn't this production's fault (except for the missing death scene which I don't remember).

The set and props were interesting. I like the idea of the fire being used, but I don't think it was executed correctly, especially at the end of Act One. Why are we watching them get up and walk off after the wedding? It felt like a technical goof. I didn't understand the purpose of the bell, which only seemed right when it acted as a counterweight to the bed after Juliet's death. Outside of that, I didn't get it and its constant vertical movements. The balloons were interesting, but I think they still need to work out how to move them. They always seemed to get in the way.

The lighting wasn't very memorable, outside of feeling sloppy. There were a lot of shadows created where you wouldn't want to see them. In a play with a simple set, lighting is essential. It was most effective during the final scene, but outside of that, not the best design. (Being previews and how close we were to the light board, we had who we think was the designer sitting behind us, and he didn't seem completely pleased.)

So yea, overall mixed feelings. It has potential, I'll say that. I only hope it improves and has a good reception.

[TimesSquared]

Posted: 9/5/13 at 9:43pm

I'm pretty much in agreement with Whizzer's review. But I didn't care for Bloom or Rashad's performances, so I saw nothing that made this production work for me.

The direction is, well, directionless, with everyone acting in wildly different styles, costumed in wildly different styles, and the play scored with music in wildly different styles. I guess it can be said that Leveaux's concept is "Nothing goes together!", but to me, it just came across as incoherent. The cast races through their dialogue and speeches at warp speed with no apparent relish for the language. Only Christian Camargo as Mercutio, in my opinion, gave a standout performance. Bloom has the benefit of a British accent to help his lines fall "trippingly on the tongue," but I could discern no real emotional connection to what he was saying, nor, as another poster mentioned, who his Romeo was. Rashad spoke so fast and unintelligibly, she came across as a hyperactive teen in a 30-year-old body. As lovely to look at as they are, I felt no chemistry between the two lovers. Brent Carver's Friar Lawrence seemed on the verge of a nervous breakdown from his opening speech. There is an awful lot of shouting and Shakesperean Acting Voice coming from some of the cast, with fiery anger regularly erupting from nowhere. It really seemed as if the director left the actors hanging and concerned himself with the look of the show, which wasn't pretty.

The design is dark and drab, with random elements like fire, sand on the floor, and THAT GIANT BELL hanging over the stage, all apropos of nothing. The lighting is dim and colorless, and casts distracting shadows on the faces of the actors. Juliet delivers a speech on a swing for no apparent reason except to make her appear more youthful. Romeo's motorcycle entrance is truly embarrassing, eliciting some unintended laughs. If Leveaux thinks a guy on a motorcycle is the ultimate in cool, he's not as trendy as he'd like this production to appear. And since when is Romeo the coolest kid in school anyway?

I'm sorry to be so negative, but this was such a disappointment. All I could think was "Why?" Save your ducats for Twelfth Night and Richard III at the Belasco next month. They HAVE to be better than this.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/5/13 at 9:48pm

What is the running time for this one?

[zepka102]

Posted: 9/5/13 at 10:18pm

It was about 2hrs 35min with intermission

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/5/13 at 10:21pm

Oh good. I was worrying this one would be 4+ hours with 3 intermissions.

[zepka102]

Posted: 9/5/13 at 10:31pm

Last night, Act One seemed to fly, ending around 9:07. Act Two felt like it dragged.

[Yelliphant]

Posted: 9/9/13 at 1:27pm

...and that's that.

[DressedInYourPajamas]

Posted: 9/15/13 at 7:09am

Anyone seen this recently? Have things improved during previews? Curious to hear if they've settled in more or if many changes have been made.

Also for anyone who's bought the student and educator tickets, are they in a specific location?

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 9/15/13 at 9:51am

I saw it on Friday and I don't think anything has changed based on reading earlier descriptions in this thread. It still has the same problems others have mentioned.

I bought educator tickets and they were in the second row of the orchestra on the side (far house right). Not much was obstructed; for $20 it's a great deal.

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 9/17/13 at 10:24pm

"why oh why do we have to see old plays on broadway that are boring to the modern audience."

You don't have to see it.

[theaterdrew]

Posted: 9/18/13 at 10:53am

Well, at least one critic likes the production choices.



http://thegrio.com/2013/09/18/condola-rashad-and-orlando-bloom-shine-in-biracial-romeo-and-juliet/#.Ujmm25jBy5I.twitter
Updated On: 9/18/13 at 10:53 AM

[forgetmenotnyc]

Posted: 9/19/13 at 12:56pm

Right on early review (even though the play doesn't open until tonight.) I thoroughly enjoyed this production which seems to be rarely presented professionally here. Yes we know the basic plot but all the intricate plot twists & turns make one feel as though you are experiencing it anew.

The actors speaking requires everyone in the audience to be completely sensitive to not making any sound or distraction. Various forms of musical underscoring add to the sound - some loud some just a whisper. The dance at the party where R & J meet is really super! All in all a terrific presentation.

The RR Theatre has been brightened up & enhanced but at places I kinda thought'there sure is a lot of pattern going on here!' This theatre has such an unusual layout what with entrances to bathrooms being where one would normally enter the orch. The modern men's room was like the best of new hotels but did manage to pump out an air freshner smell directly into the faces of all entering the theatre. My seat was labeled as section B in a 'A-E' mapping of the house. I started out U 6 (back of raked orch with top of proscenium cut off) & moved down to the 15th row on the side Left (phenomenal location which was 5 up from the division where after the 1st 10 rows the orch. begins to sharply rake.)

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 9/21/13 at 6:14pm

I just got in from seeing this production this afternoon and I was unimpressed. The actors and the text are completely upstaged by the direction, which hits every note from overdone to lazy, and everything in between. I wish Leveaux would learn to have a bit of restraint when it comes to directing, because I generally find that his productions are directed with a steady hand, but they tend to be wildly uneven, as he never really lets the text or actors breathe. When he does, as in the first balcony scene, I caught a spark of what this production could have been. Frankly, in his hands this production didn't have much of an impact, as Romeo and Juliet make out so many times and so vigorously that you almost believe them to be two horny teens and nothing more.

That said, the performances are mostly so-so. Orlando Bloom is working his ass off and is clearly giving his all. His is a fine Broadway debut and I look forward to seeing him onstage again soon. Condola Rashad is one of my favorite young stage actresses, but unfortunately her Juliet is all over the map. Her diction is not as bad as some have mentioned, but she would nail one scene so well and then would completely flounder in the next. I was most letdown by her performance, as she was the thing I was most excited to see in this production. The supporting performances range from hammy (Chuck Cooper, Justin Guarini, and Christian Camargo, I'm looking at you) to reliably strong (Jayne Houdyshell and Roslyn Ruff).

The design elements are all fine, but again seem at odds. They are at once stark and exclamatory; we get minimal sets, but we also get fire, sand, a dove, balloons, and a swinging bell.

I'm looking forward to seeing CSC's mounting (hopefully soon) so I can see what they do with the piece, but unfortunately I wasn't crazy about this one.

Side-note: I bought myself a TDF ticket on a whim last night and was seated Row J in the Orchestra, smack in the center. Great seat.

Updated On: 9/21/13 at 06:14 PM

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 9/21/13 at 7:02pm

Mercutio IS hammy, though. That's part of who he is. And I think Christian captures that beautifully.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 9/21/13 at 7:05pm

I get that, but his performance seemed really over the top to me. Nearly to the point of annoyance. And I'm usually a fan of his work.

[Honandma]

Posted: 9/22/13 at 11:21pm

dear show please close I hate bad shows

[PJPan]

Posted: 9/23/13 at 10:40am

It was such a terrible spot to place intermission. Maybe cut it after the fight and Romeo's banishment.

Brief thoughts:
Houdyshell and Ruff were standouts, to me. Enjoyed Benvolio (actor?) and I always hate that he's out of the show so early. Carver and Bloom disappointed - I didn't have any real expectations for Romeo but everything past the balcony scene screamed "acting!" and Carver played the Friar far too frail. I quite enjoyed Rashad, felt very much like a teenager in love. Too bad she and Bloom had no chemistry.

The loud music cuts were jarring, especially when they followed quiet scenes. I didn't understand the sand, but the fire looked beautiful.

All in all, a very underwhelming version of a show I've seen done much better. Happy that I only paid $35 :)

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 10/2/13 at 6:49pm

I saw this and certainly wished I hadn't. There is really nothing to like aside from Jayne Houdyshell and Brent Carver (although I was longing more for his Leo Frank). The rest of the actors are serviceable. I found it funny that when Orlando hilariously pulled his helmet off he was met with a roar of catcalls rather than applause. This seems right to me since I was definitely into it more visually than as a performance. He was shirtless during the second balcony scene. I also don't understand everyone's adulation for Chuck Cooper. I thought his performance was so laughable that I actually chuckled during the scene of Juliet's death.

Let's talk about the play being set in modern times. Is it? To me it seemed like it didn't know if these were modern times, biblical times or post-apocalyptic times. The weathered fresco and sand makes me think of some sh!tty beach town. The women seem to wear these dresses that would be jealous of Mary Magdalene. Everyone is either barefoot, in sandals or wearing Dr. Martens. If you hadn't told me this was modern times I would have thought a couple high school productions got together and put on R&J.

The set (I use that term loosely) is horrible. You have no sense of where anyone is because having three moving parts of a fresco means nothing. The bell is aggravating and serves no purpose. The "balcony" scene looks more like Juliet is preparing to walk the plank. Maybe she's in a steeple or on a draw bridge. Honestly you are given NO sense of time or place from anything on stage.

I will be honest in saying I am not entirely familiar with R&J (obviously I know the general outline but not all the details). Reading other comments I see there are some significant events that have been removed from the play. The deaths of Mercutio and Tybalt were hokey and Tybalt is in maybe two scenes prior so you don't see why his death is of any consequence to the Capulets.

This production was completely devoid of emotion (although it did have PLENTY of fire). Hopefully I'll see the CSC version and wash this nastiness from my mind.