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Email a friendUsing the Bard as an escape from the humdrum
A DARKENED stage. The gothic accoutrements of a chapel can barely be made out. A background drone of a school literature lesson morphs into the church ritual of a hymn of praise, when suddenly four boys burst onto the scene.
They are students at an exclusive boarding school fleeing from the dry strictures of the academic life.
One of them has a copy of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet in his pocket and they proceed to act out scenes from the play in the deserted school chapel.
Art imitates life and life is enriched by the power of theatre as the boys embark upon a voyage of self-discovery with the bard as their guide.
By the play's end, the schoolboy lovers realise their inner Romeo and Juliet.
Although Alastair Whatley's production casts new light on this most romantic of plays, the love scenes between lads in white shirts, grey flannels and clomping black boots seem sterile and stilted and leave the emotional juices unstirred.
The strength of this production lies in the acting. Sam Donnelly is enormously spirited as Tybalt and Balthasar and has great fun as the nurse.
Craig Gilbert plays Mercutio and Lady Capulet and excels as Friar Lawrence. Tom Hackney is an emotional and wilting Juliet and Christopher Hogben a restrained and dignified Romeo.
Designer Victoria Spearing's gothic chapel hints at the exoticism of Renaissance Italy and the sacred ambience conjures up an air of "altarboys at play while the priest is away."
Plays until August 2. Box office: 0844 847-1656.
MICHAEL STEWART