ED:
Did you make notes while you were watching the performances of Romeo and Juliet, Gemma?
GEMMA:
Yes, I did. I found it quite hard though.
GEMMA:
I kept getting too involved in the play.
ED:
Me too. I ended up not taking notes.
ED:
I wrote down my impressions when I got home.
ED:
Do you mind if I check a few things with you?
ED:
In case I've missed anything.
ED:
And I've also got some questions about our assignment.
GEMMA:
No, it's good to talk things through.
GEMMA:
I may have missed things too.
ED:
OK great. So first of all, I'm not sure how much information we should include in our reviews.
GEMMA:
Right. Well, I don't think we need to describe what happens.
GEMMA:
Especially as Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare's most well-known plays.
ED:
Yeah, everyone knows the story.
ED:
In an essay we'd focus on the poetry and Shakespeare's use of imagery etc., but that isn't really relevant in a review.
ED:
We're supposed to focus on how effective this particular production is.
GEMMA:
Mmm. We should say what made it a success or a failure.
ED:
And part of that means talking about the emotional impact the performance had on us.
ED:
I think that's important.
GEMMA:
Yes. And we should definitely mention how well the director handled important bits of the play-like when Romeo climbs onto Juliet's balcony.
ED:
And the fight between Mercutio and Tybalt.
GEMMA:
Yes. It would also be interesting to mention the theatre space and how the director used it but I don't think we'll have space in 800 words.
ED:
No. OK. That all sounds quite straightforward.
ED:
So what about The Emporium Theatre's production of the play?
GEMMA:
I thought some things worked really well but there were some problems too.
ED:
Yeah. What about the set, for example?
GEMMA:
I think it was visually really stunning.
GEMMA:
I'd say that was probably the most memorable thing about this production.
ED:
The set design was really amazing, but actually I have seen similar ideas used in other productions.
GEMMA:
What about the lighting?
GEMMA:
Some of the scenes were so dimly lit it was quite hard to see.
ED:
It helped to change the mood of the quieter scenes.
GEMMA:
That's a good point.
ED:
What did you think of the costumes?
GEMMA:
I was a bit surprised by the contemporary dress, I must say.
ED:
Yeah - I think it worked well, but I had assumed it would be more conventional.
GEMMA:
Me too. I liked the music at the beginning and I thought the musicians were brilliant, but I thought they were wasted because the music didn't have much impact in Acts 2 and 3.
ED:
Yes - that was a shame.
GEMMA:
One problem with this production was that the actors didn't deliver the lines that well.
GEMMA:
They were speaking too fast.
ED:
It was a problem I agree, but I thought it was because they weren't speaking loudly enough - especially at key points in the play.
GEMMA:
I actually didn't have a problem with that.
ED:
It's been an interesting experience watching different versions of Romeo and Juliet, hasn't it?
GEMMA:
Definitely. It's made me realise how relevant the play still is.
ED:
Right. I mean a lot's changed since Shakespeare's time, but in many ways nothing's changed.
ED:
There are always disagreements and tension between teenagers and their parents.
GEMMA:
Yes, that's something all young people can relate to - more than the violence and the extreme emotions in the play.
ED:
How did you find watching it in translation?
GEMMA:
Really interesting.
GEMMA:
I expected to find it more challenging, but I could follow the story pretty well.
ED:
I stopped worrying about not being able to understand all the words and focused on the actors' expressions.
ED:
The ending was pretty powerful.
GEMMA:
Yes. That somehow intensified the emotion for me.
ED:
Did you know Shakespeare's been translated into more languages than any other writer?
GEMMA:
What's the reason for his international appeal, do you think?
ED:
I was reading that it's because his plays are about basic themes that people everywhere are familiar with.
GEMMA:
Yeah, and they can also be understood on different levels.
GEMMA:
The characters have such depth.
ED:
Right - which allows directors to experiment and find new angles.
GEMMA:
That's really important because ...