2005 Festival
Romeo and Juliet
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Synopsis
A long-standing feud between the households of Montague and Capulet flares up in the streets of Verona. Prince Escalus intervenes to stop the fighting, but sends both families home with a warning: their lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.
Montague turns his attention to his only son Romeo, who is hopelessly in love with the unattainable Rosalind. Romeo's cousin Benvolio and his friend Mercutio convince him to attend a party hosted by the Capulets, where he might meet other women and be shaken from his melancholy. Meanwhile the Capulets play host to Paris, who is seeking permission to marry their only daughter, Juliet .
While attending the Capulets' party, Romeo sees Juliet and instantly falls in love with her. She returns his love, and as the sun rises Romeo woos Juliet from beneath her balcony. The next morning, with help from Juliet's Nurse and an initially disapproving Friar Laurence, they are secretly married. But as Romeo goes to visit his new bride during the night, Juliet's cousin Tybalt meets him in the street and they quarrel. Despite Romeo's refusal to fight, Tybalt attacks him and Mercutio is mortally wounded while defending his friend. Tybalt flees, but an enraged Romeo gives chase and kills him.
The Prince orders Romeo to be exiled, and so Romeo can only spend one night with Juliet before escaping to Mantua. Soon afterwards, Capulet tells Juliet she is to marry Paris in two days' time. She turns to Friar Laurence for aid, and he gives her a drug she can use to fake her own death. As Friar Laurence writes to Romeo to tell him of their plan, Juliet returns home and drinks the vial of medicine. In the morning her Nurse finds her apparently lifeless body, and she is taken to the family tomb.
However the Friar's letter never reaches Romeo. Hearing of Juliet's death, Romeo returns to Verona to visit her in the Capulet tomb. He encounters Paris, and is forced to murder him. Discovering Juliet's body in the tomb, Romeo poisons himself and dies at her side. Waking to find him dead, Juliet kills herself.
Reviews of Romeo & Juliet
Colin MacLean - Edmonton Sun
"Patrick Howarth's fights are staged with such brio that you worry for the safety of the actors... In a world where emotions are just barely contained, it becomes easier to understand why Romeo and Juliet fall passionately into each other's arms."
"This is no stodgy, elitist Shakespeare but a fresh and consistently interesting approach from a company that has a vision and the ability to pull it off."
Liz Nicholls - Edmonton Journal
“Kristi Hansen has a laughable, chatty comical sidekick air that gives the gorgeous balcony speeches an original un-awestruck tone.
"In this scaffolded world of viral public and private hatred, love is a rare, delicate, unexpected flower that blooms instantly..."
"You should see these boys when they get really mad. As your mom always says, somebody's bound to lose an eye. Or a cousin. Or their only crack at true love.”
Paul Matwychuk - Vue Weekly
“There's no genteel swordplay here, but a flurry of vicious head-butts and knees to the groin.”
Gilbert Bouchard - See Magazine
“This take on Romeo and Juliet features two ultra-charismatic performers… Sheldon Elter and Kristi Hansen provide a warm human take on the duo… a stellar turn by John Wright as Friar Laurence.”
“The whole cast is delightfully engaged [in this] rough-and-tumble take on the play…”
Love's Labour's Lost
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Synopsis
In order to focus their attentions on scholarly self-improvement, the King of Navarre and his Spanish lords – Berowne Longaville and Dumain – swear to forgo earthly pleasures for three years. The King decrees that their oath shall include avoiding the company of women, but Berowne points out that this could prove impractical – especially since the Princess of France is about to arrive on a diplomatic mission. The King agrees to relax his rules, but only if the Princess stays outside the royal court with Rosaline, Maria and Katharine , her three ladies.
Don Armado is given custody of Costard , who has defied the King's decree by spending time with Jaquenetta – the same woman whith whom Don Armado has secretly fallen in love. Then, as the King meets the Princess and her ladies, he and his lords are immediately smitten. Costard is ordered to deliver two letters: a love poem for Rosaline, penned by Berowne; and a note to Jaquenetta, written by Don Armado. Costard switches the two deliveries, and each lady is surprised to receive a letter from an unanticipated suitor. Don Armado's letter is delivered to the Princess while the letter meant for Rosaline is delivered to Jaquenetta.
The King and his lords discover that they have each broken their oath by writing love poetry to the Princess and her ladies, and they resolve to go courting disguised as “Muscovites” (under the pretext of ‘studying' the objects of their affection). Skeptical of their suitors' sincerity, the ladies disguise themselves as well, and each man ends up unwittingly wooing the wrong woman. After removing their disguises, the men return to invite the women inside, but discover that their elaborate attempts at courtship have made them look like insincere fools. The men vow to court in future without pretence, and the ladies accompany them to see The Pageant of the Nine Worthies, featuring Don Armado and the rest of the academics. The actors emerge with far more dignity than their lords, who heartily heckle the performance.
In the midst of the merriment, word comes that the King of France has died, and the Princess and her companions must return home. All of the women agree to come back to Navarre and marry their suitors – but only after each man has undertaken a one-year pilgrimage, in order to prove the sincerity of their love once and for all.
Reviews of Love's Labour's Lost
Colin MacLean - Edmonton Sun
"The plot is as light as an evening breeze on the North Saskatchewan."
"At one time Love's Labour's Lost was Shakespeare's lost play. It apparently wasn't performed for more than 200 years. This lively, funny production shows what a shame that was."
Liz Nicholls - Edmonton Journal
"Verbal extravagance...comic fireworks in a preposterously symmetrical plot, with four lads renouncing love but instantly falling in love with four gals.”
“This version is delicious, airy, a summer picnic of a show.”
" The fox, the ape, and the humble bee' brings down the house."
Paul Matwychuk - Vue Weekly
“…a pastel coloured romance that puts a smile on your face…”
Eva Marie Clarke - See Magazine
“This is one of the most superbly tailored casts ever to hit the Amphitheatre stage.”
“It's impossible to watch Chris Bullough onstage and not be moved to the point of tears.”
“With a sprightly tempo…the production boasts the sleek joviality of the best comedies of Hollywood's golden age.”
