'Romeo and Juliet' is one of William Shakespeare's, one of the greatest and most important playwrights that ever lived, most famous plays and also one of my favourites of his and overall. It is such a lovely, powerful story, that is the quintessential depiction of passionate love descending into tragedy perhaps, chock-full of iconic lines and speeches and characters hard to forget. There are some note-worthy adaptations out there, including Franco Zeffirelli's, though the available competition is uneven.
This 1976 production of 'Romeo and Juliet' is a worthy one. Not of the very best adaptations but doesn't disgrace the play. Although there have been far better Juliets (as well as worse, such as the age appropriate but inexperienced one in the 1978 BBC Television Shakespeare production), one will really appreciate this production's faithfulness (without being too faithful) and that it is complete. Having seen a fair few Shakespeare adaptations recently and overtime that are truncated, some so much so that coherence is affected.
Am going to start off with what could have been done better. Ann Hasson struck me as too mature and rather bland as Juliet, though she does have moments in the last two acts. Some of the lighting is on the harsh side, especially in Act 3, in a way that ages the actors somewhat.
Would have preferred Capulet to have been more subtle, more noble and more domineering, Laurence Payne was a little too campy for my taste.
However, there is so much to recommend. On the most part, the performances were good. Of the two lovers, Christopher Neame fares much better as Romeo. He is ardent, passionate and suitably impulsive and while he may not pass for a teenager the lighting is better at not betraying that. He and Hasson do have an affecting chemistry together and personally did feel their passionate love. The supporting performances are all great apart from Payne, Clive Swift and Simon MacCorkindale are the two most familiar names to me. Swift gives one of the production's standout performances, his Friar Laurence being very believable at being someone one can trust whole-heartedly. Patsy Byrne also stands out as an amusing and loving Nurse. Robin Nedwell has fun as Mercutio and his loyalty to Romeo is strong throughout, while David Robb is a suitably antagonistic Tybalt.
Production values are traditional and sumptuous on the whole, apart from some reservations with the lighting, not as lavish as Zeffirelli's but avoids being overblown or excessive. The text is vintage Shakespeare, masterful use of language and a wide range of emotions. As said, that the production is faithful and complete was appreciated so cohesion was never a problem. The production is throughout compellingly staged, with genuine tension in the fight scene and a truly moving final scene.
Overall, didn't blow me away but impressed me mostly. 7/10
