A scene from Romeo and Juliet at the Peacock Theatre. Picture: Roy Tan
Romeo and Juliet continues at the Peacock Theatre, London until 29 March.
Star rating: 5 stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Following a successful world tour of dance sensation Rock the Ballet which played at Sadler’s Wells last year, choreographer and dancer extraordinaire Adrienne Canterna and artistic director Rasta Thomas have chosen to give their new show a storyline and one of the best known in the world : Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy Romeo and Juliet.
Directed by Thomas, this 21st century makeover is helped by a terrific and eclectic soundtrack. Ranging from Antonio Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’ and the work of Prokofiev to Katy Perry, The Police and Lady Gaga.
Surprisingly, this odd style of musical collage works wonders, much like it did for Rock the Ballet. What that previous show didn’t have though were Sally Canterna and Shay Bares’ brilliant costumes and a lighting design from Roland Greil which extends throughout the whole theatre.
The clever video design by Joshua Hardy helps to tell the story and heightens the shifting musical moods, notably during the Capulet Costume Ball set to a Vivaldi/Usher mash-up.
But the real stars of the evening are of course the ten amazing virtuoso dancers, so excellent and energetic that it’s hard to single out any of them.
However, Preston Swovelin makes an attractive Romeo and Ryan Carlson (Tybalt) adds breathtaking acrobatics to his spectacular dancing skills. A veteran from Rock the Ballet and fresh from the US national tour of Flashdance, he possesses a charismatic and mischievous personality – he really is the ultimate bad boy of dance!
New York native Eric Lehn is also impressive as Paris, but the evening belongs, as always, to Adrienne Canterna with her surreal extensions and back bends in a tear-jerking, touching portrayal of Juliet.
This Romeo and Juliet is much more than just a ballet. In an effort to bring ballet to a mass audience, the ‘bad boys of dance’ not only achieve their goal by surprising their audience with spectacular dancing – mixing classical ballet with jazz and hip hop – but by delivering, this time, an all-round emotionally charged theatrical performance.
Patrick Honoré
Pictures: Roy Tan
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