Romeo and Juilet

Illyria production - Friday 11 June - Greys Court, Henley on Thames. Open air Shakespeare - it must be summer, but R&J as slapstick? I wasn't convinced. It was a long way into the play before it turned into the tragedy it is. I'm not sure you need to play it this way for the family audience - we all know what happens after all - or have the muscians dressed as the fab four with mop top wigs - a nearly 50 year old reference. Still, it is admirable that a troup of five can pull off all the part and costume changes required and cope with a relatively uncut script. Hurrah for their stage craft, if not the direction.