Comments on: Theater review: `Romeo and Juliet’ http://www.theaterdogs.net/2009/05/31/theater-review-romeo-and-juliet%e2%80%99/ San Francisco Bay Area backstage Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:43:54 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Richard Connema http://www.theaterdogs.net/2009/05/31/theater-review-romeo-and-juliet%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-1659 Richard Connema Mon, 01 Jun 2009 09:44:34 +0000 http://www.theaterdogs.net/?p=1666#comment-1659 First I sent my review to New York and then I went to your site to read your review. I have to agree with you on whole about the production even though I was freezing my "balls" off sitting in the outdoor theatre. Thanks God, they gave us "hand warmers". No I used it for my hands. I found the first act exciting and wonderful and I had reservations about the second act especially the last 20 minutes. I won't do into detail since no one will read my review that will come up in several weeks. I talked to James Carpenter after the performance and I told him that in my 82 years on this earth I have seen at least 40 productions both here and in the UK. I've good and bad productions. One that took place in London Dock Area in modern times that was an abomination. I remember one of the best productions was the Old Vic Production in 1960 with Dame Judi Dench as Juliet and John Stride as Romeo. The Franco Zeffirelli production was superb. I have seen several modern versions that were excellent including the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1986 set in modern Verona with the Montague and Capulet clan fighting with switchblades and Romeo killing himself with a hypodermic needle. Now how is that for an ending. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival did a sterling modern day production several years with Kevin Kenerly doing a marvelous Romeo. I can't remember who played Juliet. First I sent my review to New York and then I went to your site to read your review. I have to agree with you on whole about the production even though I was freezing my “balls” off sitting in the outdoor theatre. Thanks God, they gave us “hand warmers”. No I used it for my hands. I found the first act exciting and wonderful and I had reservations about the second act especially the last 20 minutes. I won’t do into detail since no one will read my review that will come up in several weeks.

I talked to James Carpenter after the performance and I told him that in my 82 years on this earth I have seen at least 40 productions both here and in the UK. I’ve good and bad productions. One that took place in London Dock Area in modern times that was an abomination. I remember one of the best productions was the Old Vic Production in 1960 with Dame Judi Dench as Juliet and John Stride as Romeo. The Franco Zeffirelli production was superb. I have seen several modern versions that were excellent including the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1986 set in modern Verona with the Montague and Capulet clan fighting with switchblades and Romeo killing himself with a hypodermic needle. Now how is that for an ending. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival did a sterling modern day production several years with Kevin Kenerly doing a marvelous Romeo. I can’t remember who played Juliet.

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