"There are no experts in Shakespeare. All of us, if we read intelligently and without fear, have the right to our own Shakespeare, whether we love him, loathe him, are bored by his plays, or believe them to be the most compelling expression of genius ever written. There is no authority that can place the seal of authenticity on Shakespeare. Each of the many institutions and individuals -- myself included -- who produce, edit, and play Shakespeare offer only an interpretation of a constantly challenging and changing text."
Thus wrote Louis Fantasia in "Instant Shakespeare -- A Proven Technique for Actors, Directors, and Teachers" (Ivan R. Dee, 2002).
Fantasia, who for ten years directed the Shakespeare Globe Theatre's acting and directing workshops -- no small feat for an American -- has put his ideas into action with the current production of Romeo and Juliet at the Met Theater. Having decided that the play is "more Gothic than Renaissance," he has opted to emphasize "the ever-lurking presence of death throughout" and keep the story moving at swift, seamless speed (no scene breaks or intermission).
Fantasia also decided to mount the play on a set inspired by the Globe's reconstructed stage. The result is a lean, no-frills, hard-driving production that captures the tragic dimensions of the love story in an effective, compelling way. Flowery poetic delivery gives way to unforced, realistic emoting. Despite a key plot turn that depends on postal bungling, this is a believable Romeo and Juliet.
Frederic Hamel and Megan Goodchild are the impassioned, ill-fated young lovers; they get strong support from Jill Holden as Nurse, Niall Padden as Lord Capulet and Michael Matthys as Mercutio. On the whole, Shakespeare's words are decently spoken by the Equity-waiver performers, but it would be a boon for L.A. theater if Fantasia, for once, were given the opportunity to mount Shakespeare with an A-list cast.
Other critics: LA Times: "It's not a bad reading, nor for much of its length, is it boring. It's just not particularly illuminating, more admirable effort than moving achievement.
