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Romeo & Juliet Shakespeare4kidz Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton *** YOU have to hand it to this clever
company for finding a formula which makes Shakespeare enjoyable for
young children, with the help of smart acting, catchy tunes and slick
humour. Hundreds of youngsters from schools around the
Midlands laughed, applauded, cheered and even fought back the tears at
the tragic end to the famous love story involving a boy and girl from
the feuding Montague and Capulet families in Verona. The enthusiastic cast - wearing modern costumes -
held the attention of the audiences from start to finish, with Noel
Andrew Harron a bundle of fun as Romeo's loyal pal, Mercutio. Shame he
had to disappear from the action when he became the first victim in a
knife fight with Tybalt Capulet (Jack Bannell). Tybalt, in turn, was dispatched by the angry
Romeo Montague (Tom Stephenson) who was promptly banished by Prince
Escalus (Stephen McGlynn) but returned for the heart-breaking finale
with Juliet the lover he had secretly married from the rival family,
played by Olivia Chenery. Fine performances, too, from Emma-Louise Bennett,
Juliet's nurse, and Antony Stuart-Hicks as Friar Lawrence who has a
clever plan which backfires. Romeo & Juliet, with music provided by Tom Turner
(keyboards) and Antoine Edery (drums), was produced by Julian Chenery
and Carolyn Chenery. Paul Marston
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