Production image of Romeo and Juliet. Photo by Michael Lynch.The company, founded by Henry Maynard in 2010, is known for its original interpretive stylings, reworking timeless classics with boundless energy and extravagance. This rendition of Romeo & Juliet is bold and entertaining, something one can imagine Shakespeare himself (and of course his audiences) would have enjoyed. Indeed, Maynard has imbued this work with many of the beloved eccentricities fondly attributed to the Elizabethan age - lavish wigs, made-up faces caked in white powder, rouged cheeks, and harshly painted lips, complemented by elaborate costumes.
Compared to the energetic action, the set is relatively minimal, adorned with a bare-bones style scaffolding structure, which is strewn with half-dressed dummies, props, and costumes to be used later in the action. The pieces hanging about like ghostly apparitions foreshadow the tragedies to come. Later on, as our characters spring to life in lavish attire and grotesque masks, this set becomes emblematic of how little is needed alongside the ceaseless intensity of this ensemble.
In this performance, Shakespeare is a ‘party’ of eccentricity - a myriad of debauchery, mayhem and mischief - tied together in a timeless tale that speaks to the most urgent aspects of human emotion. This theme is heightened by Maynard’s over the top design, the soundscape, and, of course, the players' refreshingly raw physicality throughout. Credits must go to movement director Matej Matejka, who has crafted a piece which is boundary-pushing, edgy and authentic.
The actors, likewise, truly appear to be ‘living’ their roles, the emotions as heightened as you dare - and each with an innate ability to move the audience to laughter, tears, frustration, anger and even repulsion. A shout-out to Simon Gleave as Mercutio/Paris and Kyle Thomas-Cole as Romeo, whose interpretations of these Shakespearean heroes we know and love are masterful, enthusiastic and thoroughly entertaining. Of course, the whole ensemble has energy to spare, ripping through the action and diving head-first into the abundance of drama in this play.
On the whole, this rendition of Romeo & Juliet is a true gift for theatre-lovers, presenting the utmost of tragedies wrapped up in lavish foibles, idiosyncrasies and downright absurdity. It would be hard to get this play wrong, seeing as there is so much to work with. That being said, this makes it harder to find a new way to interpret this much loved drama and bring a new excitement to the stage. And yet that is exactly what Flabbergast Theatre has managed to achieve. The ensembles wit, exhuberance and playfulness fill this performance with details that highlight the rough debauchery that Shakespearean audiences would have relished. The blend of humour, music, extravagance and emotion seeps through every aspect of this work and truly presents something not to be missed.
Romeo & Juliet plays at Wilton's Music Hall until 21 June.
