Way back when i was in high school i got to see Romeo and Juliet at the victoria baths in manchester and it was amazing! the staging was really phenomenal, they made the most of it being a victorian era swimming pool building so at one point we were standing in the empty pool looking up as actors popped out from changing room curtains and fought on platforms above us, and before the final act they funneled us over to the viewing platform seats in another area that was all dark to see a filled pool lit with candles in floating flowers and the final act took place on a giant floating cross... It was one of those magical moments that really made me think about people customising creative projects to new environments!! Its still pretty clear in my mind even though it was a good few years ago, honestly i find myself thinking about it a lot, the image really stuck with me for the long term.
Nice to see Freema Agyeman mentioned a few times. She seems to be sticking with Shakespeare for a little while at least, going to Viola in "Twelfth Night," and also won an award for her portrayal of the nurse in this play.
This was just so fascinating, I haven't seen either production and I'm a Shakespeare purist, so while I wouldn't have been up in arms as one reviewer said, I find these messed about with contemporised versions of plays I've loved all my life really hard to buy into. Having said that, if I had to choose one I would see I'd have chosen the Broadway one even though there are things about it I know I wouldn't get along with. It's so easy to emphasize the darkness and to forget these are young kids in love for the first time, and I think we can all relate to what that feels like. If you lose that then you surely can't bring yourself to care much. You have to be able to understand why they're behaving in this way. I truly love your comparisons, thanks for this as ever and I hope you're having a great day.
Hi!! Love love love your work I was just wondering why Francesca Amewudah-Rivers’ name isn’t in the title of the video? I know she’s not as well known by audiences (especially in the US) but if the other three are listed I think she should be included.
Short answer is because there is a character limit and the title responds to how people have anecdotally been referring to the productions. "The Tom Holland one", "the Jamie Lloyd one", "the Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler one". All 4 are mentioned at every turn in the video, in the description and on the thumbnail.
We went to see Romeo and Juliet in the west end and then saw it performed at Conwy Castle by Lord Chamberlains Men. The two productions couldn’t have been any different with both budget and direction but honestly I LOVED the Lord chamberlain’s version so much more. I highly recommend them to anyone who enjoys Shakespeare. I was so disappointed with the west end show, I was glad that I saw two versions.
I saw three productions of Romeo & Juliet this year. I saw both the high-profile West End and Broadway productions. I preferred the Broadway production with Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler over the West End production with Tom Holland. However, both productions paled in comparison to the production at the American Reperatory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts this past summer. That production was directed by Diane Paulus and starred Rudy Pankow as Romeo, Emilia Suárez as Juliet and Terrence Mann as Friar Laurence and is the most like previous productions of Romeo & Juliet. They did not use of video cameras on stage to tell the story like the West End production or gear the story to attract a younger audience like the Broadway production. I think if I were seeing Romeo & Juliet for the first time, I would recommend this production over the West End and Broadway productions. Sometimes a story does not need a gimmick or an angle and just needs to be told as is.
I have only seen one stage production but it stuck with me. It would have been somewhere between 1994-1996 and portrayed the Montagues and Capulets as modern Mafia families, really leaning into the Italian setting. Around the same time I saw two different modern adaptations of Macbeth - one was in a big theatre and presented as "in the style of Reservoir Dogs". It was very slick and a little tongue in cheek again set in the world of organised crime. The other was presented in a small, studio space and was far darker and grittier in the context of Glasgow street gangs.
Great review.I loved Kit and Rachels version ( and I am a fair bit older than the target audience). R+J is usually one of my least favourite Shakespeare plays but I am going back again for closing night ( from the UK ). I love how they portrayed the youthfulness and really leaned into the comedic elements.I have heard others complain about the minimal set but I honestly never noticed as I was so engaged.Kits Romeo is the best portrayal I have seen and I loved his understanding of the text. Rachel was very good but did not quite reach the same standard unfortunately.There is so much to see in the show and because of the way they use the theatre I have deliberately chosen different seats next time to get a different perspective.I do hope it is reocgnised in the awards.
Actually, you can reliably see wonderful & original productions of Shakespeare for nearly 70 years at The Delacorte Theater (2024 being the exception as it's under renovation) in Central Park as part of The Public Theater's 'Shakespeare In the Park.' (I've been going every Summer since I was a student.) In fact, The Delacorte's last production prior to it's closing was a very good original new musical version of The Tempest w. Renee Elise Goldsberry as Prospero. So Shakespeare in NYC is not as rare as you think! [P.S. I'd love to see Romeo & Juliet w. Connor & Zegler, but tkts are way expensive!]
Did I say New York? I definitely meant Broadway specifically! Would love to see Shakespeare in the park and also am aware of an off Broadway production of The Merchant of Venice which recently began performances.
If you are looking for Shakespeare in the Midwest (obviously not the case with MJT), American Players Theatre in Spring Green, Wisconsin is one place to find it. We can't all get to Broadway or the West End, alas.
@@MickeyJoTheatre Cool! If you're ever in NYC when The Delacorte is up & running again, you'll love it. At the risk of sounding corny, it's a genuinely magical experience. It's still light out when shows begin, & seeing the colors in the sky as the sun sets over Central Park while the play progresses is something that can't be duplicated inside a theater. [And it attracts the biggest stars - I've seen Meryl Streep on stage as well as in the audience.] All for free! Def. something for you to look forward to.
Haven’t seen either production, but find your comparison so interesting. When the most compelling components of an R&J production are screens, microphones, & what might be 2nd-hand blood, I’m content to give it a miss. Do wish I could hear Kit Connor as Romeo. The rhythm of the language carries the meaning, so an actor who does it justice is worth a trip to the theater. I wish either of these productions conveyed that the tragedy is adulthood. It’s hard to do that while undercutting the parental characters, who are the creators of the psychological background. When Romeo & Juliet grow into independence & consequently pay with their lives, their journey from giddy romance to deadly commitment should leave the audience feeling punched in the gut. It doesn’t sound as though either production gets there. If Lloyd said to himself, “How can I lay waste to this play in my own inimitable style?” he may have in some sense succeeded.
I really wish Jamie Lloyd would start expanding his vision rather than repeating the same thing over and over. It loses impact when it is repeated. IMO. YMMV
Tom Holland one wins sure it was literally the most controversial show in years with all the racism and the hate but Holland sold out every single ticket in 2 Hours so yes i say it was the most successful show of this decade most likely
@MickeyJoTheatre okay just to make it clear I'm not just considering the sold out which is impressive I'm talking about selling out in 2 Hours which i have never seen or heard before
Hmmm, I saw the Broadway production last week and was underwhelmed. I’m considerably older than the target audience and while I certainly wasn’t expecting medieval costumes, I was expecting to perhaps hear and even understand the text. Often it seemed like the text was an afterthought and I wondered, why not scrap Shakespeare altogether and just rewrite the play for a “modern” audience? To me, this R&J seemed more like the spring production of some high school’s hip, new drama teacher determined to “shake things up.”
Way back when i was in high school i got to see Romeo and Juliet at the victoria baths in manchester and it was amazing! the staging was really phenomenal, they made the most of it being a victorian era swimming pool building so at one point we were standing in the empty pool looking up as actors popped out from changing room curtains and fought on platforms above us, and before the final act they funneled us over to the viewing platform seats in another area that was all dark to see a filled pool lit with candles in floating flowers and the final act took place on a giant floating cross... It was one of those magical moments that really made me think about people customising creative projects to new environments!!
Its still pretty clear in my mind even though it was a good few years ago, honestly i find myself thinking about it a lot, the image really stuck with me for the long term.
Nice to see Freema Agyeman mentioned a few times. She seems to be sticking with Shakespeare for a little while at least, going to Viola in "Twelfth Night," and also won an award for her portrayal of the nurse in this play.
This was just so fascinating, I haven't seen either production and I'm a Shakespeare purist, so while I wouldn't have been up in arms as one reviewer said, I find these messed about with contemporised versions of plays I've loved all my life really hard to buy into. Having said that, if I had to choose one I would see I'd have chosen the Broadway one even though there are things about it I know I wouldn't get along with. It's so easy to emphasize the darkness and to forget these are young kids in love for the first time, and I think we can all relate to what that feels like. If you lose that then you surely can't bring yourself to care much. You have to be able to understand why they're behaving in this way. I truly love your comparisons, thanks for this as ever and I hope you're having a great day.
I would love a Romeo and Romeo production. Tom and Kit.
I saw this done in an Edinburgh Fringe production once! Rival rugby teams.
They brought the Edinburgh Fringe version to London. I saw it.
Hi!! Love love love your work I was just wondering why Francesca Amewudah-Rivers’ name isn’t in the title of the video? I know she’s not as well known by audiences (especially in the US) but if the other three are listed I think she should be included.
Short answer is because there is a character limit and the title responds to how people have anecdotally been referring to the productions. "The Tom Holland one", "the Jamie Lloyd one", "the Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler one". All 4 are mentioned at every turn in the video, in the description and on the thumbnail.
@ ahh that makes sense Thank you for the answer 🙏🏼
Hooray, I've been looking forward to this! Thank you, Mickey Jo!
We went to see Romeo and Juliet in the west end and then saw it performed at Conwy Castle by Lord Chamberlains Men.
The two productions couldn’t have been any different with both budget and direction but honestly I LOVED the Lord chamberlain’s version so much more. I highly recommend them to anyone who enjoys Shakespeare. I was so disappointed with the west end show, I was glad that I saw two versions.
I saw three productions of Romeo & Juliet this year. I saw both the high-profile West End and Broadway productions. I preferred the Broadway production with Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler over the West End production with Tom Holland. However, both productions paled in comparison to the production at the American Reperatory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts this past summer. That production was directed by Diane Paulus and starred Rudy Pankow as Romeo, Emilia Suárez as Juliet and Terrence Mann as Friar Laurence and is the most like previous productions of Romeo & Juliet. They did not use of video cameras on stage to tell the story like the West End production or gear the story to attract a younger audience like the Broadway production. I think if I were seeing Romeo & Juliet for the first time, I would recommend this production over the West End and Broadway productions. Sometimes a story does not need a gimmick or an angle and just needs to be told as is.
I haven’t seen either production. But I feel like the Broadway production accomplished what my high school’s production of Romeo & Juliet couldn’t
I have only seen one stage production but it stuck with me. It would have been somewhere between 1994-1996 and portrayed the Montagues and Capulets as modern Mafia families, really leaning into the Italian setting.
Around the same time I saw two different modern adaptations of Macbeth - one was in a big theatre and presented as "in the style of Reservoir Dogs". It was very slick and a little tongue in cheek again set in the world of organised crime. The other was presented in a small, studio space and was far darker and grittier in the context of Glasgow street gangs.
Great review.I loved Kit and Rachels version ( and I am a fair bit older than the target audience). R+J is usually one of my least favourite Shakespeare plays but I am going back again for closing night ( from the UK ). I love how they portrayed the youthfulness and really leaned into the comedic elements.I have heard others complain about the minimal set but I honestly never noticed as I was so engaged.Kits Romeo is the best portrayal I have seen and I loved his understanding of the text. Rachel was very good but did not quite reach the same standard unfortunately.There is so much to see in the show and because of the way they use the theatre I have deliberately chosen different seats next time to get a different perspective.I do hope it is reocgnised in the awards.
I concur entirely!
Actually, you can reliably see wonderful & original productions of Shakespeare for nearly 70 years at The Delacorte Theater (2024 being the exception as it's under renovation) in Central Park as part of The Public Theater's 'Shakespeare In the Park.' (I've been going every Summer since I was a student.) In fact, The Delacorte's last production prior to it's closing was a very good original new musical version of The Tempest w. Renee Elise Goldsberry as Prospero. So Shakespeare in NYC is not as rare as you think!
[P.S. I'd love to see Romeo & Juliet w. Connor & Zegler, but tkts are way expensive!]
Did I say New York? I definitely meant Broadway specifically! Would love to see Shakespeare in the park and also am aware of an off Broadway production of The Merchant of Venice which recently began performances.
If you are looking for Shakespeare in the Midwest (obviously not the case with MJT), American Players Theatre in Spring Green, Wisconsin is one place to find it. We can't all get to Broadway or the West End, alas.
@@MickeyJoTheatre Cool! If you're ever in NYC when The Delacorte is up & running again, you'll love it. At the risk of sounding corny, it's a genuinely magical experience. It's still light out when shows begin, & seeing the colors in the sky as the sun sets over Central Park while the play progresses is something that can't be duplicated inside a theater. [And it attracts the biggest stars - I've seen Meryl Streep on stage as well as in the audience.] All for free! Def. something for you to look forward to.
Saw that "Sunset Boulevard" bit on the Oliver's (Oliviers?) broadcast. Quite something.
Haha feels like this video exists just to have another chance to hate on the London production 😂😂 And I'm here for it 😂
Mickey are you going to put a review of Here and Now up, I know you’ve seen it and I’m dying to know what you thought of it!
Yes I am! I've got a bit of a backlog but it's on its way, don't worry!
Haven’t seen either production, but find your comparison so interesting. When the most compelling components of an R&J production are screens, microphones, & what might be 2nd-hand blood, I’m content to give it a miss. Do wish I could hear Kit Connor as Romeo. The rhythm of the language carries the meaning, so an actor who does it justice is worth a trip to the theater. I wish either of these productions conveyed that the tragedy is adulthood. It’s hard to do that while undercutting the parental characters, who are the creators of the psychological background. When Romeo & Juliet grow into independence & consequently pay with their lives, their journey from giddy romance to deadly commitment should leave the audience feeling punched in the gut. It doesn’t sound as though either production gets there. If Lloyd said to himself, “How can I lay waste to this play in my own inimitable style?” he may have in some sense succeeded.
All the tickets sold out completely for Holland so you didn't bought ticket in theatre and you didn't see the show
I wish you'd give us a wide shot once in a while. 🙂
Of what? 😅
I really wish Jamie Lloyd would start expanding his vision rather than repeating the same thing over and over. It loses impact when it is repeated. IMO. YMMV
Very curious to see what The Tempest is like!
Tom Holland one wins sure it was literally the most controversial show in years with all the racism and the hate but Holland sold out every single ticket in 2 Hours so yes i say it was the most successful show of this decade most likely
Not the only show this decade to sell out all of its performances. And the Broadway production is hardly selling poorly!
@MickeyJoTheatre okay just to make it clear I'm not just considering the sold out which is impressive I'm talking about selling out in 2 Hours which i have never seen or heard before
Hmmm, I saw the Broadway production last week and was underwhelmed. I’m considerably older than the target audience and while I certainly wasn’t expecting medieval costumes, I was expecting to perhaps hear and even understand the text. Often it seemed like the text was an afterthought and I wondered, why not scrap Shakespeare altogether and just rewrite the play for a “modern” audience? To me, this R&J seemed more like the spring production of some high school’s hip, new drama teacher determined to “shake things up.”