Romeo and Juliet

By Robert Iles - 4th Aug 2004

Having seen Creation Theatre’s Much Ado About Nothing earlier this season I was interested to return to their outdoor venue and sample Abigail Anderson’s Romeo and Juliet.

This time, the weather was less clement but this was offset by our decision to go early and have one of the fresh crepes served in the grounds. Café M seems a semi-permanent feature at Creation Theatre’s productions in Oxford and it was well worth the visit.

The stage was still set with a balcony under the great oak but the red structures of the earlier production were replaced by more muted tones and a more centralised structure. Enough to give us variety but still leaving a chance to see the parkland behind being well used by the actors.

The play starts with a street fight that could probably do with some more work before it becomes credible but then moves into a smooth, well paced and confidently executed first half. The cast of eight, doubling into the smaller roles, deliver the lines with the clarity and comprehension I have come to expect of Creation Theatre and a wit that almost makes us forget the tragedy about to unfold. Later fights were far more confidently played and hence felt more like part of the action rather than an add-on.

Jamie Harding gives us a very genuine Romeo, love sick, passionate and eloquent whilst Elaine Symons, while clearly not Juliet’s actual age, presents us with someone we can believe is a young girl The cast contains no weak points but I must say that Matthew Hendrickson’s puts over the earthy wisdom (or is that Norman Wisdom?) of the nurse with great conviction, almost pantomime when played for comedy and yet played perfectly straight when the drama requires it.

The middle of the second half of the play is, in my opinion, harder to make as gripping but the production tried manfully even though some idiot audience member decided to get their flash camera out. Music and choreography are both important to, and help to strengthen, this show though the track underplaying Juliet’s death did sound a little “Casualty” for me.

We enjoyed it, the audience enjoyed it and the cast appeared to enjoy it. Why not grab a blanket and a cushion and enjoy a “Creation” in the park evening too.