Romeo & Juliet at Richard Goad Theatre

Photo by Richard Lindsey

Romeo & Juliet
by William Shakespeare

Richard Goat Theatre
4250 Atlantic Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90807

Date of reviewed performance: March, 11, 2012

Cast
Romeo - Nathan Dean Snyder
Juliet - Summer Blake
Friar Laurence, Peter - Mike Austin
Nurse - Rebecca Rodriguez
Mercutio - Kyle Conley
Tybalt - J.J. Ryder
Benvolio - Jacob Ochsner
Paris - Sean Scofield
Lord Capulet - Carl Wawrina
Lady Capulet - Rachel McVay
Lord Montague, Friar John - Andreas Robichaux
Lady Montague - Lindsay Zana
Prince - Adrienne Marquand

Written between 1591 and 1595, Romeo & Juliet has become the love story on which all others are based and measured.  In the current production by the Long Beach Shakespeare Company, director Helen Borgers keeps the staging largely traditional, the costumes and set pieces all giving a nod to the Elizabethan period in which the play was born.

The performance begins with the entrance of the Prince (Adrienne Marquand), who briefly narrates the synopsis in dramatic backlighting. Lights come up on the beginning of a street brawl in fair Verona. The brawlers are Montague and Capulet supporters; sworn enemies. The Prince of Verona intervenes and declares that further breach of the peace will be punishable by death. Later, Count Paris (Sean Scofield) talks to Lord Capulet (Carl Wawrina) about marrying his daughter, but Capulet is wary of the request because Juliet is only thirteen. Meanwhile, Benvolio (Jacob Ochsner) talks with his cousin Romeo (Nathan Dean Snyder), a Montague, about Romeo's recent love struck depression over a girl named Rosaline. In an effort to see Rosaline, Romeo attends a ball at the Capulet house. However, instead he meets and falls in love with Juliet (Summer Blake). After the ball, Romeo sneaks into the Capulet courtyard and overhears Juliet at her balcony vowing her love to him in spite of her family's hatred of the Montagues. Romeo reveals himself; they become betrothed and secretly marry the very next day. Juliet's cousin Tybalt (J.J. Ryder), angry that Romeo had sneaked into the Capulet ball, challenges him to a duel. Romeo refuses to fight, but Mercutio (Kyle Conley) accepts the duel on Romeo's behalf and is fatally wounded. Romeo then confronts and slays Tybalt.

The Prince exiles Romeo from Verona and declares that Romeo’s return to the city is a death sentence. Lord Capulet, misinterpreting Juliet's grief, agrees to marry her to Count Paris and descends to rage when she refuses to become Paris's bride. Juliet visits Friar Laurence (Mike Austin) for help, and he offers her a drug that will put her into a death-like coma for 42 hours. Romeo learns of Juliet's apparent death and, heartbroken, buys poison from an apothecary, goes to the Capulet crypt, drinks the poison and dies. Juliet almost immediately awakens and, finding Romeo dead, stabs herself with his dagger.

This production is very energetic, with several of the actors pushing their characterizations over the top. It’s quite entertaining and one of the most boisterous productions of Romeo & Juliet I’ve seen. It is, however, important to note that louder vocals and more histrionics don't always equal good acting – and there are a couple of performances here that would have benefited from being reeled in a touch. Another thing that sets this production apart is that the cast members do not recite their lines with English accents. This is a wise choice for amateur productions and one I wish more of them would make.

This cast looks as though they are almost entirely from the same demographic – which takes something away from the youthfulness of this play’s title characters. Casting the young lovers can be difficult: go for the age at the expense of experience, or go for experience at the expense of the correct age. The best of both worlds could have come from seeking more age-appropriate casting of the elder characters.

  

In all, this is a fun production to see and its liveliness makes it a perfect introduction to the Bard - particularly if you have school-age children who are not prepared to sit through denser material. It takes a brave community theatre to concentrate solely on works of Shakespeare. This is a hard-working company, full of ambition and audacity – which makes them a group to watch and support in the Long Beach community.

Romeo & Juliet runs now through April 1st, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm. Tickets are $20 ($10 for students) and may be purchased at the door or in advance through their website. For more information, call (562) 997-1494.


Directed by Helen Borgers
Produced by Chris Garcia
Stage Manager - Judy Markwell
Lighting Design - Brandon Cano-Errecart
Costume Design - Ashley Marquand
Dance Choreography - Mike Austin, Rachel McVay
Fight Choreography - Nathan Dean Snyder
Music Director - Edmund Velasco