REVIEW:
'Romeo and Juliet'
Hilberry Theatre, 4743 Cass Ave., Detroit. Plays in repertory through Dec. 16. Tickets: $15-$28. For information: 313-577-2972 or http://www.hilberry.com.
"What's in a name?"
For most people, that's not much of an issue. But if you're Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet – children of two long-feuding families in ancient Verona – it's the deal breaker that prevents the young lovers from living happily ever after.
And if you're Wayne State University's Hilberry Theatre program, it's the chance to stage a familiar Shakespeare tragedy that will both attract an audience and provide plenty of meaty roles for your graduate level actors.
Both were accomplished last Saturday night – despite the opening game of the World Series a few miles down the road that had several anxious theatergoers tracking the score with their BlackBerries and cell phones.
Ah, the wonders of modern technology!
And oh, what passionate poetry The Bard weaves in this, his most popular love story!
For actors and audience members alike, understanding those beautiful, but old-fashioned words is often a challenge. But not with this production. It becomes obvious only moments in to the performance that the show's director, Dr. James Thomas, has worked hard at helping his actors discover the meaning behind the words they speak. So since the actors understand what they are saying, the audience does, too – and for that we are grateful.
Thomas' robust staging afforded many of his young actors an opportunity to have plenty of fun with their roles – especially his supporting cast.
Brian Michael Ogden fills the hotheaded Tybalt – Juliet's cousin and Romeo's foe – with the perfect mix of obnoxious bravado and snarling condescension.
As Frair Laurence, Christopher Corporandy is appropriately kind and compassionate; his "Art thou a man" speech to Romeo in Act 3, Scene 3 is impeccably delivered.
Comic relief is well handled by Jeff Thomakos who plays Peter, the guard who helps pave the way for Juliet to marry her betrothed.
And Megan Callahan – despite appearing a little too young to be Juliet's nurse, and not as bawdy as the role calls for – magnificently uses her face and voice to convey her character's every thought and emotion.
Oddly enough, however, it's the actors in the two lead roles – both first-year students – who are not yet strong enough to carry this show.
Caroline Price plays Juliet far older than the 14-year-old girl she is, especially in the play's early scenes.
And Aaron Kirby simply lacks the depth to fully bring Romeo to life.
