Villa-fan Romeo, played
by Shaun Hartman, and his Juliet, played by Abigail Greenwood travelling
on "the fearful passage of their death-mark’d love" in Paperback
Theatre's socially distanced comedy
tragedy
Romeo and Juliet
Little but Live Festival
Moseley Park and Pool
****
Birmingham’s very own Paperback Theatre
Company conducted the Bard in Moseley Park at the weekend, with the
classic tale of our two young star-cross’d lovers. Romeo and Juliet, for
a brand new socially distanced festival Little but Live.
As Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline drifted over the
historic park and fish nibbled chunks of bread, it was obvious that this
was going to be a unique telling of the classic tragedy full of Covid
twists and masked turns.
Even the lyrics Hands, touching hands, reaching
out, touching me, touching you that we’ve all belted out at some past
occasion before socially distanced became part of the lexicon, goes
against the times we now live in.
Pre-lockdown, seven months ago to be exact, I
ventured out to the theatre for BRB’s First Steps Swan Lake at
Birmingham Hippodrome over February half term, never imagining the world
we would now be living in viewed over the top of a facemask and
slathered in hand gel.
Post-lockdown it was joyous to be finally be back
to the theatre, be it only an hour, sitting outside on the grass with
the sun shining down, marvelling at the focal point for all the action
the Chapel of Many designed by architect Sebastian Hicks and donated by
Coventry Cathedral.
Romeo, Shaun Hartman, avid Villa supporter, first
sets eyes on Juliet, Abigail Greenwood, flame-haired temptress, as they
bust some moves to Steps in a nightclub. “My rodeo Romeo, A cowboy god
from head to toe, ‘wanna’ make you mine, better get in line 5,6,7,8.”
The poignant lyrics then lead to mixed households and dangerous liaisons
under balconies.
The cast of four includes Juliet’s booze hound
father George Attwell Gerhards, also co-director, and ukulele playing
Charis McRoberts oozing charisma and humour to this historical hiccup of
miscommunication and fatal errors.
Bruno Mars couldn’t have said it more eloquently
when he sung “Hey baby, I think I ‘wanna’ marry you.”
The festival not only delivered outdoor
Shakespeare directed by Lucy Bird but stand-up comedy, exercise classes,
music from The Reggaelators and Dohl drumming. All tickets for all the
events were kept at a very reasonable £5 to cover basic costs but we are
all extremely appreciative of the staff and artists volunteering their
time to create this successful venture in these uncertain times for the
arts. There is a Crowdfunder set up for donations to support Little but
Live on the Paperback Company Facebook Page or go to
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/little-but-live-artist-donations
Paperback Theatre are currently rescheduling
their 2020 tour of Me and My Doll which was cancelled along with most
productions due to the outbreak of Covid-19 so new dates will be coming
soon for 2021. For more information go to
www.paperbacktheatre.com
The show must go on!
Emma Trimble
20-09-20
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