As a former aspiring ballerina, I've always found going to the ballet to be somewhat magical. I think that part of me can't believe that human beings can contain so many emotions in movement with no words at all. That being said, I was especially interested in seeing how a ballet would take on Shakespeare: a playwright known for using words, words, and more words.
I'll admit, Romeo and Juliet is not my favorite of Shakespeare's plays. However, after watching the story told through dance and movement, I wonder if the problems I find with the story are textually based, and not necessarily inherent in the essence of the story itself. For instance, I am often irritated by the portrayal of the main female roles: Lady Capulet, the Nurse, and Juliet. But within this performance, these characters were given more opportunities to be active in the expression of their experience, if only because this art form is based on movement and action. Whatever the reason, this seemed to eliminate their passivity and increased their agency.
Even though Shakespeare is renowned for his use of language, these artists were not hindered by this textless adaptation. They were so specific and clear in their characterizations and movements that they were able to convey iconic lines from the story without words. They were also able to create new meaning within moments because they were not hindered by text. One of the most powerful moments of the production was Lady Capulet's discovery of Tybalt's death. In the original text, their relationship is certainly a tender one, but in this iteration of the story, Lady Capulet was almost more bereft over his death than the death of her own daughter. We had no text to guide our ideas, and it was a thought-provoking addition to the story.
Obviously, not every performer can be a trained ballerina. (Actually, in Russia, they might be. The jury is still out.) This production of Romeo and Juliet exemplifies why having an understanding of movement is so important to the work of the actor. Each character in this ballet was so clear. We never heard names spoken, but that was not a problem. We have seen productions here that have used the tool of spoken language, albeit an unfamiliar one, that did not achieve this clarity. In fact, I have seen other productions of Shakespeare's plays that did not achieve such clarity. I think it would be a very interesting exercise, especially when working with playwrights as textually based as Shakespeare, to ask actors to perform the story without using words. I think this would require making movement a higher priority in an actor's training, even if we can't all be ballet dancers.
Overall, this performance was one of my highlights of this trip. Their strength, grace, and artistry were truly amazing to watch, and it made me reconsider a play that was not my favorite. It was a beautiful performance and I hope that my future holds more Shakespeare ballets!
I'll admit, Romeo and Juliet is not my favorite of Shakespeare's plays. However, after watching the story told through dance and movement, I wonder if the problems I find with the story are textually based, and not necessarily inherent in the essence of the story itself. For instance, I am often irritated by the portrayal of the main female roles: Lady Capulet, the Nurse, and Juliet. But within this performance, these characters were given more opportunities to be active in the expression of their experience, if only because this art form is based on movement and action. Whatever the reason, this seemed to eliminate their passivity and increased their agency.
Even though Shakespeare is renowned for his use of language, these artists were not hindered by this textless adaptation. They were so specific and clear in their characterizations and movements that they were able to convey iconic lines from the story without words. They were also able to create new meaning within moments because they were not hindered by text. One of the most powerful moments of the production was Lady Capulet's discovery of Tybalt's death. In the original text, their relationship is certainly a tender one, but in this iteration of the story, Lady Capulet was almost more bereft over his death than the death of her own daughter. We had no text to guide our ideas, and it was a thought-provoking addition to the story.
Obviously, not every performer can be a trained ballerina. (Actually, in Russia, they might be. The jury is still out.) This production of Romeo and Juliet exemplifies why having an understanding of movement is so important to the work of the actor. Each character in this ballet was so clear. We never heard names spoken, but that was not a problem. We have seen productions here that have used the tool of spoken language, albeit an unfamiliar one, that did not achieve this clarity. In fact, I have seen other productions of Shakespeare's plays that did not achieve such clarity. I think it would be a very interesting exercise, especially when working with playwrights as textually based as Shakespeare, to ask actors to perform the story without using words. I think this would require making movement a higher priority in an actor's training, even if we can't all be ballet dancers.
Overall, this performance was one of my highlights of this trip. Their strength, grace, and artistry were truly amazing to watch, and it made me reconsider a play that was not my favorite. It was a beautiful performance and I hope that my future holds more Shakespeare ballets!
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