Romeo and Juliet, the timeless story of star-crossed lovers by Shakespeare, has been performed endless times around the globe over the centuries. It’s been translated, rebooted, and modernized to attract new generations to the universal theme. It’s been a film many times over, an opera, and immortalized in dance and ballet.
Matthew Bourne, the British choreographer and director extraordinaire, has brought a fresh new twist to Romeo and Juliet. Debuting in 2019 in London at Sadler’s Wells in London, the full-length ballet is set in the Verona Institute, a mental hospital with music by composer Sergei Prokofiev. It was huge hit with glowing reviews and is now being performed in Paris.
When the curtain opens, the spare but striking almost black and white set by Lez Brotherston (who also designed the all-white costumes) sets the tone for the next two hours. The harsh reality of the institution gives way to an even more heartbreaking but poignant retelling of the story. The fast paced and powerful choreography is sensational, and the movement of dancers is downright breathtaking. The love scenes between Romeo and Juliet are beautiful and tender.
Even though there’s no dialogue, the dance and music tells the story powerfully.
Romeo and Juliet
Theatre du Chatelet Until April 28, 2024
https://www.chatelet.com/en/programmation/season-2023-2024/matthew-bournes-romeo-and-juliet/
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