Steadstyle Chicago
October 2009 Theatre Review by Joe Stead
Romeo and Juliet
Chicago's latest gang inflicted homicide has brought another grim reminder of the devastating effects of hatred and feuding. And just as another innocent life was taken by a gunman's bullet, so were William Shakespeare's tragic young lovers cut down by their families' hatred and violence, proving once again the timeless connection of the centuries old tale. The central concept of Janus Theatre Company's thrilling and deeply moving account of "Romeo and Juliet" is that all the roles are being performed by a company of women.
There's solid historical support for such casting, going back all the way to the original production in which teenage boys enacted all the female roles. Women were forbidden from appearing on stage, which was considered a less than honorable occupation. Once that law was changed women freely took roles both male and female throughout the 19th and 20th Centuries. Some of us remember the outstanding all-male Apple Tree production known as "R&J" that also played the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, as well as acclaimed all-female troupes such as Footsteps and Babes With Blades that have taken on Shakespeare's work.
Not that Director Sean Hargadon really needed any historical justification here as his extremely fine company puts to shame several of the traditional versions of this play I have seen in recent years. The play begins in full fight in the darkness with Capulets and Montagues squaring off in an uncivil brawl that had one audience member thinking "cat fight". Gender soon becomes a non-issue though. Love is love after all, and any homoerotic undertones that may exist in having two members of the same sex acting out Shakespeare's steamy tale of star crossed lovers simply adds to the danger and thrill of this classic.
Jen Short is an intoxicating Romeo, fairly bursting with rapturous joy at the wonders of first love. Ms. Short's expressions and sensitivity are really wonderful to watch. She would be a welcome asset to any professional Chicago stage. Audrey Flegel's Juliet grows from an awkward child to a woman fighting for her very life and soul as the tragic forces play out. In what must surely be one of the most memorable supporting character studies I have ever seen in a Shakespeare performance, Patricia True nearly walks away with the show in the role of the Nurse. True's laser-like timing and line deliveries were so instinctive and in the moment it was almost as if she were improvising the role on the spot. She provided the much needed laughs to contrast the darker tragedy. Truly masterful work!
Angela Bend is a fierce and animated Mercutio and her fight scenes with Catie Early as Tybalt are excitingly staged by John Tovar. Choreographer Konnie Kay gives the Capulet's ball a surprising and entertaining modern dance spin. Jimmy Lundstrom's sound design compliments and heightens the dramatic moments and is well chosen. And Lori Holm clearly and touchingly intones the play's prologue, which has been moved to the final epilogue. Director Hargadon has made amazingly good and inventive use of a small promenade space. It is minimalist and powerful as director and cast finesse the text for all it's worth. Anyone who appreciates an up close and personal approach to one of the greatest plays ever written would be advised to make the trip to Elgin for Janus Theatre Company's captivating production of "Romeo and Juliet".
Janus Theatre presents "Romeo and Juliet" through November 8, 2009 at the Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division Street, 8th Floor of the Professional Building in downtown Elgin. The play runs 1 hour 55 minutes with intermission. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7p.m. Tickets are $15. Group rates are available. Tickets can be reserved by calling the box office at 847-841-1713. For more information, go to www.janustheatre.wordpress.com.
About Joe Stead
Joe
Stead has enjoyed a lifelong passion for the theatre, which has
involved acting, directing, producing, designing and reviewing for
the past twenty-five years. He served as founder, producer and
Artistic Director of Curtain Up Productions in Baltimore, Maryland
and Four Star Players in Tampa, Florida. Favorite productions
have included "Life With Father," "Deathtrap,"
"The Odd Couple," "The Miracle Worker,"
"Brighton Beach Memoirs," "You're A Good Man, Charlie
Brown" and "Godspell". He has also performed
leading roles in "Fiddler on the Roof," "Pippin,"
"The Phantom of the Opera," "The Front Page," and
most recently as Hucklebee in "The Fantasticks" for
Waukegan Community Players. Joe holds a degree in Commercial
Art from Tampa Technical Institute. As a critic, he has
reviewed everything from Broadway to community theatre and major
regional theatres throughout the United States including the Kennedy
Center in Washington, D.C., Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey,
Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut, and the Asolo Theatre in
Sarasota, Florida.
Since 1998, he has been a proud resident of Chicago, the greatest theatre city in America. He served for two years as Theatre Editor for College News and Central Newspapers. He created the website Steadstyle Chicago in 2000 to showcase the city's outstanding and diverse theatre scene. Joe was proud to serve alongside a distinguished panel of theatre professionals as a judge for two seasons of Speaking Ring Theatre's "Vitality" Festival of original short plays. His most fulfilling role, in addition to reviewer and all-around theatre fanatic, was as director of the 2007 production of Peter Shaffer's "Equus" at Actors Workshop (now Redtwist) Theatre, which was nominated for five Joseph Jefferson Award Citations and won for Best Actor (Peter Oyloe).