 | High in Rank in Many Ways
rating: 5
I just finished viewing this production(from 1976) in tandem with the BBC/Time-Life 1978 version. The BBC series, of which I have most of the productions, is very fine. Proporting to be complete, which they claim to be on all of their productions without substantiation, they actually cut several scenes which are in the Thames production, to come in at 167 minutes, while the Thames version is 183 minutes. As no other video production I have seen that is now available comes close, this has to be the nearest to totally complete of them all. If you only know "Romeo and Juliet" from the Zefferelli film, very fine in its way, but not the whole play as represented here, seeing it "ALL" is instructive and illuminating. Both BBC and Thames have fine actors and direction, great costumes and specially built stage sets (not a production on a stage, but not a filmed location setting, alla Zefferelli, either), completeists might want to go for the version here, and I would strongly recommend it on many counts. I must demur with the other reviewer in stating that I think that the Juliet is young teenaged-looking and acting. Both the principals are creditabilly youthfull looking and act with the same intensity as the Zefferelli pair. The Nurse and the Friar are equally fine. The fights are believeably staged and executed with impetuosity. The emotional impact is very high; in scenes with both the principals and the Friar, the tenderness in their interaction is touching. It is also instructive to have all the scenes there, because Shakespeare knew how to leven the tradgedy with comic interludes (the musicians scene, for one) which gives greater impact to the whole. I don't know of a production of this play available now which gets so much right; If there be such, someone please instruct me, because I feel that THIS production is worth anyone's time and money. The bonus interviews with two of the cast members is also illuminating and worth a look-see. This is definitely a great version that anyone interested should see.
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Quite Good . . . Nicely Staged
rating: 4
Though not as romantic or adventurous as the 1968 and 1996 versions, this take on the star-crossed lovers follows the text much closer (but still edits out a few lines here and there). No standout performances, as everyone in the cast does a credible job. One curiosity: the actress Juliet looks and sounds much older than the teenager she was originally written to be. Romeo and his cronies work well together, and fiery-haired Tybalt is just plain mean.
Performed as an Elizabethan period piece with simple but effective staging and costumes. Directors of amateur theater groups should give this version a gander.
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