REVIEW: Romeo & Juliet, Prescot Woodland Theatre
Prescot's Imaginarium Theatre (formerly MATE Productions) returns for the summer with a bold and beautiful take on the ultimate tragic romance.Bursting with character and bringing forward welcome doses of warm humour alongside the all death and drama, their Romeo & Juliet is stunning, and certainly up there as one of their best shows to date.There is great chemistry between the lovers (Kieran McCarthy-Hoare and Patricia Hodgson), a couple the audience can really root for. Hodgson's Juliet is sweet, smart and fully formed - a refreshing performance as director Gaynor La Rocca's take on the balcony scene showed, playing it with humour and charm rather than over-earnest winsome schmaltz.As ever with this community company, things truly shine in the large ensemble scenes. The masquerade ball is a delight, and Juliet's funeral is chillingly sombre. The contrast of love and hate, joy and sorrow is a notable, major theme illustrated clearly throughout.To wit, it's Connor Simkins, as Romeo's friend Mercutio, who threatens to steal the whole show with a scenery-chewing turn that is infectiously, unexpectedly, brilliantly funny; as his nemesis Tybalt, Conor Burns balances the tomfoolery with an arresting air of bitter menace that sets up their clash perfectly.There's a playful hand in some of the interactions between the supporting cast too - like Carmel Skelly's nurse and Chris Douglas's Peter - improvisations that may not have come from the Bard himself, but fit alongside nicely and certainly amused the audience.Like last year's Treasure Island there was an excellent attention to detail in all aspects of the production, from Jane Allen's beautifully designed traditional costumes and masks to the full-on fight scenes, convincing scuffles and sword fights, even when viewed up close.This Romeo & Juliet is a true crowd pleaser; an entertaining, accessible spectacle with a real sense of community spirit that really does bring Shakespeare to the people.There are further outdoor performances at Little Crosby, Sudley House and Frankby in the coming weeks - see Imaginarium's website for further details.
