June 2010 Theatre Review by Paul Cosca
Shakespeare's R&J
William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" is one of the best known, and most widely performed plays in the world. Many people who have never stepped inside of a theatre have no trouble describing the tale of the star crossed lovers. So what more is there to say about one of literature's most classic love stories? Judging by The Journeymen's newest production, the answer is: quite a lot.
"Shakespeare's R & J", adapted by Joe Calarco, is not your typical telling of the doomed lovers. Four boys in a Catholic school meet after hours to explore the passion and excitement that they find in Shakespeare's words. They have no set. No costumes. They have nothing at all but themselves and their words. And frankly, that's all that's needed. It's a bit of an unusual production. There's virtually nothing in the way of a set (just 4 chairs and a couple of window panes). Absolutely no music whatsoever except the distant ring of wind chimes. What we are left with is a truly stunning lighting design and four young actors who hit all the right notes.
Luke
Daigle and Brent Abens are surprisingly romantic and tender as the
titular couple. What we see in them is a timid, youthful
exploration of love and sexuality. These are two very young
people finding intense passion for the first time. The first
touch, the first kiss. Pulses quicken as nervous hands find one
another and occasionally the line is blurred between the fictional
couple and the schoolboys that are playing the roles. Daigle
and Abens are able to push the roles far past the whiny, annoyingly
impulsive teens that we often get with R&J and the production is
much better for it.
However, passion is not just for lovers. A good Shakespearian tragedy would be nothing without some epic battles, and "R&J" has its share. There are no weapons on stage. Instead, the warriors duel in a thrilling tug of war with the single red cloth that they carry throughout the production. The physical action of the show is visceral and exciting and is light years better than most of the swashbuckling I see in classic shows.
One element of particular note is Adam Kander's portrayal of Juliet's Nurse. Of the many times I've seen "Romeo and Juliet," both on stage and on screen, the Nurse is at best entertaining, and at worst a buffoon. She could be a clown or a tottering fool and is often slathered with heaps of unneeded emotion (and usually a ridiculous accent). But Adam Kander has taken the Nurse to places I had scarcely realized she could go. When she sees Juliet in so much pain after Tybalt's death and Romeo's banishment, there is true inner turmoil. The one person in the world who could cure Juliet's sadness is the one person she cannot stand to see. Romeo has killed her one true friend. The one person who was genuinely kind to her. How could she bear calling upon this man? And yet, her love of Juliet overcomes her love for herself, and she offers up her own happiness for that of her mistress. For this moment and for others, Adam Kander's portrayal of the Nurse is by far the very best I have ever seen.
Not every moment of the show is a winner. Of the many characters that stroll across the stage, some end up as duds. There were some technical glitches (and when all you have is lights, those glitches become very glaring). But these small quibbles do nothing to detract from what is an incredibly arresting experience. Journeymen Theatre is a theatre of being "in the moment". And this production is full of moments that are absolutely thrilling.
"Shakespeare's R & J" by Joe Calarco, directed by Frank Pullen, runs Fridays and Saturdays at 7pm through August 21, 2010 at The Coach House Theatre (6205 N. Sheridan Rd). All tickets are $15. For more information, or to purchase tickets, go to www.thejourneymen.org. For more information on this show, please visit the Theatre In Chicago Shakespeare's R&J page.
About Paul Cosca
Paul
Cosca is a writer, actor, director, designer, and critic who loves
the city of Chicago. Originally from California, Cosca moved to the
windy city in 2005 and got a BFA in acting from Roosevelt University.
He has acted and directed in several theatres in the city and is the
artistic Director of Brikenbrak Theatre Project, a theatre that is
devoted to challenging the way people think.
Cosca is devoted to creating a dialogue between all kinds of people in the theatre community. He believes that actors, directors, writers, critics, and theatre lovers should all engage each other, and that the flow of communication is what makes theatre such a vibrant community. He would love to hear what you think, not only about his reviews, but about other shows you've seen. Feel free to send him an email at paulcosca@gmail.com.