ROMEO & JULIET -- Great River Shakespeare Festival

Great River Shakespeare Festival
script: William Shakespeare
dir: Paul barnes
cast: Jacques Roy, Christopher Gerson, Jason Michael Spelbring, Brian Frederick, Jonathan Gillard Daly, Michael Fitzpatrick, Kim Martin-Cotton, Carla Noack, Rob Eigenbrod, Jack Sanderson, Shanara Gabrielle, Doug Scholz-Carlson, Marcus Truschinski, Laura Coover
set design: Takeshi Kata
costume design: Rosemary Ingham
lighting design: Kenton Yeager
composer: Josh Horvath
sound design: C. Andrew Mayer

The classic story of two lovers from rival/warring families. A tragedy.

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A remarkable production, which, while unedited, does not feel as though it's three hours long. It moves well from scene to scene and holds our interest well.

For those who don't study or teach it, the actual production of Romeo & Juliet often comes as a surprise -- there are fight scenes, there is humor, all within this tragedy. This production plays all of it well, which is incredibly important -- if you can't laugh or get excited, than the tragic parts have less impact. When we like these characters and can laugh along side of them, they become real and their deaths carry much more weight.

There are two scenes in this production which did not work well for me. First was the "Queen Mab" speech. It was the only time I was bored, and quite frankly it does not move the story forward. I would have been in favor of that portion being cut.

The other part that didn't work as well as I think it was intended, was the rope ladder down from the balcony. I liked the idea, and I could see what the director was going for (using the the length of the stage to imply the great height of the balcony), but it didnt work for the very simple reason that they had already broken that barrier earlier when Romeo leaped up, grabbed the railing and hoisted himself up to give Juliet a farewll kiss. If the balcony was that low to the ground that he could jump and pull himself, then why did he need a 30' length of rope later (other than that the lines called for it)?

Still, an over-all excellent production, and worth seeing.

PETER PAN -- Home and Community Options

directed by Larry Gorrell
music directed by Harry Mechell
cast: Alyssa Schlageter, Jordan Smith, Rachel Crawford-Miller, Hunter Tibor, Frank Merchlewitz, Debbie Berhow, Cory Franson, Keley Bates-Franson, Mary Hansel Parlin, Lydia Feuerhelm, Michael Deranek, Debbie Berhow, et al
music: Mark Charlap
lyrics: Carolyn Leigh
additional music: Jule Styne
additional lyrics: Betty Comden and Adolph green

This is the classic, musical stage version of the play, made popular by Mary Martin years ago, and Cathy Rigby more recently.

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I found this play to be wanting in so many areas. It was hard to believe that it was rehearsed as long as it was, based on what was on stage.

The actress playing Peter did a fine job, but the Darling children were seriously lacking in any charisma.

"Hook" was just fine -- appropriately evil and powerful.

My favorite part of the show was the dance that "Tiger Lil" performed with her fellow Indians. However, even Tiger Lil could have been much more animated.

I consider director Larry Gorrell a friend, but it felt that he was spending his time playing crowd control, rather than actually directing this piece.