Tybalt, played by Stan Demidof, enters next and eventually proves to have no less than four tattoos. First the Prince comes out in a suit then Capulet servants wear black and gray urban wear. Against an uncluttered, rotating set that looks imported from 14th century Verona, courtesy of scenic designer Anna Louizos, the cast trickles in wearing an eclectic but cohesive wardrobe by Jennifer Moeller. Haj adds modern breaths throughout the play, but they fit seamlessly after the play’s first impressions. Photo by Jenny Graham, courtesy of the Guthrie. The opening fight features Tybalt (Stan Demidoff, left) and Benvolio (Lamar Jefferson, right) Bill McCallum as the Prince of Verona is center, underneath the clock tower. On the flip side, the script’s more sorrowful turns usher in excellent performances from Lord Capulet, played by Andrew Weems, in a tempest’s rage, and from Hatanaka, who transforms from boy to man, his passionate moods anchored by conviction that has finally found a real base. Benvolio (Lamar Jefferson) and Mercutio (Kelsey Didion) use plenty of physicality in their jokes so audience members who can’t follow the verse can understand the jeer, and Potpan (Corey Farrell) proves to be an endearing character created by a tweaked script and simple set ups. Obviously, the play doesn’t stay light-hearted the whole way through, but the cast balances the mood swings through sheer commitment. Eastman, for her part, controls the scene, giving an air of attempted maturity that succumbs to love’s thrill and a delightful scene ending. As silly as his behavior may be, as his eyes light up for Juliet, played by Kate Eastman, the audience’s laughs become tinged with sentimentality for young love.
When we first meet Romeo, played by Ryan-James Hatanaka, he is armed with dramatic epithets, mopey teenager syndrome and a poetry notebook, but in this scene, he is a giddy school boy, jumping up and down to get Juliet’s attention as she gazes out into the night.
Perhaps the easiest way to put this play into its essence is the famous balcony scene. Juliet, played by Kate Eastman, and Romeo, played by Ryan-James Hatanaka, touch hands the night they meet.
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