Romeo & Juliet review: This Romeo may be monochrome and mannered... but grab the chance to see Spider-Man do The Bard at all costs, writes PATRICK MARMION

Romeo & Juliet

First night review: Duke of York's Theatre, London 

Spider-Man Tom Holland was never going to have much difficulty scaling the walls of the Capulets’ villa in Verona to reach Juliet’s balcony in Shakespeare’s love story.

But in the event, Jamie Lloyd’s daringly dirgeful production, which opened in the West End last night, only requires him to reach the giddy heights of a microphone stand.

Yes, this new production of Romeo & Juliet is a typical example of Lloyd celebrity minimalism – following in the footsteps of James McAvoy in Cyrano and Nicole Scherzinger in Sunset Boulevard.

As usual, that means a run on mics in the capital for a production that is whispered – and sometimes merely breathed – into the amplification system.

Spider-Man Tom Holland was never going to have much difficulty scaling the walls of the Capulets’ villa in Verona to reach Juliet’s balcony in Shakespeare’s love story

Spider-Man Tom Holland was never going to have much difficulty scaling the walls of the Capulets’ villa in Verona to reach Juliet’s balcony in Shakespeare’s love story

But in the event, Jamie Lloyd’s daringly dirgeful production, which opened in the West End last night, only requires him to reach the giddy heights of a microphone stand. Pictured: Tom Holland and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers as Romeo and Juliet

But in the event, Jamie Lloyd’s daringly dirgeful production, which opened in the West End last night, only requires him to reach the giddy heights of a microphone stand. Pictured: Tom Holland and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers as Romeo and Juliet

As usual, that means a run on mics in the capital for a production that is whispered – and sometimes merely breathed – into the amplification system

As usual, that means a run on mics in the capital for a production that is whispered – and sometimes merely breathed – into the amplification system

Gone is the sunshine of fair Verona, where Shakespeare lays his scene.

Read More

Romeo & Juliet fans declare Tom Holland is a 'superb casting' and praise his 'palpable chemistry' with 'fantastic' co-star Francesca Amewudah-Rivers as modernised West End production finally opens after 'technical issues'

article image

Instead, we get the Stygian darkness of Soutra Gilmour’s stage design – empty but for lighting rigs and a giant cinematic billboard relaying close-ups of the action as cameramen track actors on stage, and around the building itself (Romeo’s banishment to Mantua takes him up on to the roof).

The play is famously preoccupied with death and Lloyd makes the most of that, with a cast dressed in black jeans, T-shirts and hoodies. It’s monotone, monochrome and mannered. If you took the production’s pulse, you might be tempted to call a priest.

Sometimes, it even feels as if Lloyd is deliberately trying to throttle the life out of the febrile passion that normally drives this headlong love story. And yet, cometh the hour, cometh the (Spider) man... all 5ft 8ins of him.

Damn, he’s a buff and good-looking bloke. His commanding cheekbones and curving jaw suck the breath from the audience and keep us wrapped in his dreamy gaze.

Instead, we get the Stygian darkness of Soutra Gilmour’s stage design – empty but for lighting rigs and a giant cinematic billboard relaying close-ups of the action as cameramen track actors on stage, and around the building itself (Romeo’s banishment to Mantua takes him up on to the roof)

Instead, we get the Stygian darkness of Soutra Gilmour’s stage design – empty but for lighting rigs and a giant cinematic billboard relaying close-ups of the action as cameramen track actors on stage, and around the building itself (Romeo’s banishment to Mantua takes him up on to the roof)

The play is famously preoccupied with death and Lloyd makes the most of that, with a cast dressed in black jeans, T-shirts and hoodies

The play is famously preoccupied with death and Lloyd makes the most of that, with a cast dressed in black jeans, T-shirts and hoodies

It’s monotone, monochrome and mannered. If you took the production’s pulse, you might be tempted to call a priest

It’s monotone, monochrome and mannered. If you took the production’s pulse, you might be tempted to call a priest

Sometimes, it even feels as if Lloyd is deliberately trying to throttle the life out of the febrile passion that normally drives this headlong love story. Pictured: Daniel Quinn-Toye stars as Paris

Sometimes, it even feels as if Lloyd is deliberately trying to throttle the life out of the febrile passion that normally drives this headlong love story. Pictured: Daniel Quinn-Toye stars as Paris

Nima Taleghani (pictured) stars as Benvolio

Nima Taleghani (pictured) stars as Benvolio

I missed the colour of the masked ball where Romeo and Juliet meet, and the drama of the sword fight when Romeo calamitously kills Juliet’s cousin Tybalt

I missed the colour of the masked ball where Romeo and Juliet meet, and the drama of the sword fight when Romeo calamitously kills Juliet’s cousin Tybalt

Freema Agyeman (pictured) stars as nurse

Freema Agyeman (pictured) stars as nurse

After meeting Juliet he does a jig like a footballer celebrating a goal, but otherwise moves with the precision of a cat. And although it’s stillness he does best, the shy smiles he scatters on his beloved are – in Hollywood terms – worth a million dollars. In the circumstances, Francesca Amewudah-Rivers holds up well as Juliet.

Lloyd discourages her from showing too much personality or independent spirit (as he does everyone), yet she has a quiet maturity that sits easily with the poetry.

Read More

Tom Holland praises his 'incredible' Romeo & Juliet co-stars as he shares cast photo following postponed opening night: 'Highlight of my career'

article image

Likewise, Michael Balogun as Friar Lawrence imposes gravitas and good sense on the not so rash young lovers. The one surprise is Freema Agyeman as Juliet’s youthful Nurse.

Normally ample, ageing and garrulous, Nurse is here a 30-something party girl with attitude. Much of her wittering in the Bard’s original is cut, and instead she gets lines from Juliet’s mother, who is controversially ditched altogether.

I missed the colour of the masked ball where Romeo and Juliet meet, and the drama of the sword fight when Romeo calamitously kills Juliet’s cousin Tybalt.

But we may not get a chance to see Holland live on stage again if Hollywood has its way – so happy are they who have a ticket already for this curious but nearly sold-out requiem. And even happier they who can afford £275 a pop.

OTHER NEWS

15 minutes ago

Copa America 2024: Updated power ranking for all 16 teams

15 minutes ago

Roenick gets into Hockey Hall of Fame after a lengthy wait. 2024 class includes 2 US women's players

15 minutes ago

Roy Keane warns Gareth Southgate is 'under huge pressure' to start England star in last 16

15 minutes ago

Focused on Investing Products For Kids: Acorns CEO

15 minutes ago

Woe de Cologne: England fans’ party ends in boos as team turns clock back

15 minutes ago

Widespread heavy rainfall and isolated thunderstorms in B.C.

15 minutes ago

Chargers News: Late-Round Rookie Primed for Success

15 minutes ago

Oklahoma high court rules state funded religious charter school unconstitutional

17 minutes ago

Love Actually's Thomas Brodie-Sangster Marries Elon Musk's Ex Talulah Riley

17 minutes ago

LoveShackFancy Partners With Suni Lee For An Americana Collection With Cotton

17 minutes ago

Duke and Duchess of Westminster top social power list after headline-making wedding

17 minutes ago

LinkedIn’s co-founder slams Trump social network Truth Social’s ‘absurd’ $6 billion valuation

21 minutes ago

Video: Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk takes a dip in the ocean with Stanley Cup as wild celebrations hit Fort Lauderdale Beach barely 24 hours after Florida wins its first-ever championship

21 minutes ago

Video: Jamie Oliver and wife Jools renew their vows AGAIN in Vegas Elvis-themed ceremony on their 24th wedding anniversary - after exchanging them for the second time just last year

21 minutes ago

Video: Love Island's Harriett Blackmore does the SPLITS and passionately kisses Ronnie Vint as her co-stars strip down to sexy lingerie during show's Heart Rate Challenge

21 minutes ago

Copa America referee COLLAPSES in frightening scene during Canada-Peru game with Kansas City temps in the 90s as official is removed on stretcher

21 minutes ago

Competition executive Andy Petree announces retirement from Richard Childress Racing

21 minutes ago

Confirmed Swiftie! Tom Cruise dances and laughs at Taylor Swift's Eras Tour

21 minutes ago

Fox News' ‘Gutfeld' Will Vie With Late-Night Rivals After Nightly RNC Coverage (EXCLUSIVE)

21 minutes ago

Sony, Universal and Other Record Labels Sue A.I. Music Generators

21 minutes ago

Portrait of Sir David Attenborough by Jonathan Yeo unveiled

21 minutes ago

Watch: Roy Keane jokes at expense of English pundits getting giddy about Euro 2024 success

21 minutes ago

Trump threatens lawsuit over ad using his own words to discourage mail voting

21 minutes ago

Charley Hull, Georgia Hall offer entertaining Olympics preview at LPGA Dow Championship

21 minutes ago

MP ministers to pay their income tax themselves

21 minutes ago

Max Verstappen faces grid penalty; Ferrari seek clarification over TPC rules

21 minutes ago

VW Plans to Make $5 Billion Investment Into Rivian

23 minutes ago

Minnesota's Rapidan Dam at risk of 'failure' amid severe flooding

26 minutes ago

John Mercurio And Greg Saphier To Co-Lead MPA Communications And Public Affairs

26 minutes ago

Mitford Sisters Drama Unveils Cast As BritBox International Boards

29 minutes ago

Houthis target Israeli vessel MSC SARAH V with new ballistic missile

30 minutes ago

England top Group C despite another uninspiring draw from Gareth Southgate's side and will likely face the Netherlands - with third place finisher in Group E still in play

30 minutes ago

Why Netflix Is Opening Theme Parks in Malls

30 minutes ago

It's back! Aurora-sparking sunspot returns for rare 3rd trip across the sun, firing off explosive solar flare (video)

30 minutes ago

Mzansi woman washed her worries away on Victoria Falls edge

30 minutes ago

Victims’ group urges no U-turn on plans for former Maze Prison site

30 minutes ago

Lefties losing it: Jerry Seinfeld heckled by ‘anti-Israeli activists’ at Australian show

30 minutes ago

The biggest question about Intel’s Lunar Lake CPUs was just answered

30 minutes ago

Julia Quinn Breaks Silence on Bridgerton's Gender-Swap Twist After Backlash

30 minutes ago

Everything leaving Netflix in July 2024