Image supplied by That Production Company.
That Production Company are an independent theatre company resident in Studio 188: Creative Performing Arts Space in 2014. Romeo & Juliet is a community-focused production created for this year’s Ipswich Festival.
As a community-focused production this Romeo & Juliet combines a cast of experienced professional and emerging local artists, and, as such, provides a wonderful opportunity for budding local actors to develop performance skills and experience.
Director/designer/producer, Tim Wynn, has reconfigured Studio 188, swapping the high proscenium stage for the floor and incorporating raked seating which transforms this primarily band performance venue into a space more conducive for theatre.
Lighting design by Kelly Calder and sound design by Jake Kearton aptly complement this contemporary modern dress production. The ballroom scene is given a magical touch by the use of curtained fairy lights and the sound design underscores scene changes and moods and provides dramatic impact in the death scenes. Fight choreography by Gabriel Comerford is exciting, urban and contemporary, however not all actors appear comfortable in the execution. As a modern dress Shakespeare, questions of motive and plausibility are left hanging. No explanatory notes or design concepts help explain Juliet’s enforced marriage as a 14-year-old in contemporary dress.
The production runs at a lengthy three-and-a-half hours with interval and could be better served with judicious cuts and less obtrusive and time-consuming scene and light changes. Vanja Matula, Belinda Heit , Flloyd Kennedy, Samuel Valentine and Joshua Whitton all give engaging and credible performances. The scenes between Vanja Matula (Capulet) and Joshua Whitten (Paris) bristle with wit while remaining delightfully subtle. Samuel Alexander is a charming, charismatic and believable Romeo, who unfortunately seems to be in a story of unrequited love rather than of ‘star-crossed lovers’ given the lack of emotional connection offered by Georgia Spark (Juliet). Juliet’s emotional compass ranges between petulance and anger with little awareness of the passion, pain and ultimate fear she faces. The Queen Mab scene performed solely by torchlight is an exciting and dynamic choice. Unfortunately, it lacks clarity and detail, and the subtleties of the Queen Mab speech are sadly lost.
Eamonn Clohessy (Mercutio) gives an energised but unfocused performance and leaves the darker complex elements of the character unexplored. While some of the less experienced cast struggle to connect with the text, the production is generally solid, although neither the pathos nor humour inherent in the text are fully explored or evident.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Romeo & Juliet
That Production Company
Director/Designer/Producer: Tim Wynn
Creative Producer: Cassandra Ramsay
Fight Choreographer: Gabriel Comerford
Lighting Designer/Stage Manager: Kelly Calder
Sound Design/Operator: Jake Kearton
Cast: Eamonn Clohesy, Belinda Heit, Flloyd Kennedy, Shane Mallory, Vanja Matula, Nicholas Sinclair, Samuel Valentine, Declan Dalziell, Chris Kellett, Luen McKerrow, Ellen Marshall, David Scaroni, Georgia Spark, Joshua Whitten.
Ipswich Civic Centre, Brisbane St, Ipswich
www.ipswichciviccentre.com.au
30 April – 10 May
