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Show Tfie Tfiurukrfiirrf Monday March 10, 1986 Page 7 Romeo and Juliet pleasing but lacks integral vitality THEATRE REVIEW BY ANNETTE GROOMS SUSC has a fine and enduring reputation as a presentor of the works of William Shakespeare. The summer Utah Shakespearean Festival is renowned throughout the world. However, the theatre departments current production of Romeo and Juliet is not a serious threat to the professional organization here. But while this one lacked the necessary vitality needed to depict a young romance such as Romeos and Juliets, the production is pleasing and shouldnt be skipped by theatregoers. The play is a classic in western literature. The familiar story is about two families and their hatred for each other; two lovers are caught in the crossfire. It is that love and conflict that requires vitality. Opening nights performance, again, lacked some spark, but there were nevertheless plenty of bright spots. Desmond Penny, in the role of Friar Lawrence, was among the shining presences on stage. His voice was the clearest and his portrayal was a stong one. Julianne Crofts is always a wonderful actress and as Juliet she also did beautifully, but she could barely be heard, even to people in the front rows of the Auditorium. The Nurse was performed by Elizabeth Leisek and she was exceptional. Leiseks cianty is spectacular and needed for this play. She was realistically witty and sensitive for the role. The family fued was led by Mercutio, played by Tobin Atkinson, for the Montague side, and Tybalt, Patrick Sterling, for the Capulet side. Sterling was very good as Tybalt, a relative of the Capulets, but he was also barely heard by the audience. Atkinson as Romeos friend, had good clarity and he portrayed his character with great energy. David Boushey should be applauded for his choreography of the fight scenes between the two gangs. Doug Christensen as Montague and Michael Michie as Capulet both did a wonderful job as head of the fueding families. Michael Stivers portrayal of Romeo, however, was not up to standards he has previously set, although he was adequate to the task. Director Scott Phillips showed why he is a great asset to the theatre departments list of directors. He pulled together largely with students what is a difficult play for any group of actors and technicians. The lighting crew seemed to have some problems during a few of the scenes. It is likely, given Phillips direction, that the crew will have them ironed out by the next performance. Scenic designer Rebecca White did an excellent job. The set was very strong and original and the scenic crew deserves a lot of credit for its work on the production. Romeo and Juliet will be in production March 13, 14, 15. Tickets can Se reserved by calling the SUSC theatre 6 box office at between 1:00 and 5:00 p.m. weekdays. 586-7S7- production of ' Romeo and Juliet continues this iveekend ivith Julianne Crofts as Juliet and Michael J. Stiver as Romeo. S USCs Connie Layton has high theatrical aspirations BY HEATHER HARVEY Connie Layton drives a 57 Studebaker, given to her hv her uncle when she came to SUSC from Bountiful, Ut. The concern was that she wouldnt walk home from late night theatre rehearsals, ending sometimes as late or early as 2:30 a.m. That car is a symbol of the heavy workload Layton puts in as a SUSC theatre arts student. Layton, a senior, hopes somedav to do it professionally, without having to write a term paper at the same time, she says. currently assistant director to Scott Phillips Romeo and Juliet, now running on SUSCs Mainstage. I hqd to decide whether I wanted to act in it or help direct it, she says, adding that she chose to direct it because she thought it would be better for her career. Its a huge shovv, so Im getting a better perspective of what it will be like; its an opportunity for growth, she says. Layton has some experience working with Phillips already but from a different viewpoint. She directed Phillips in The Constant Wife in a fall production. Such closeness forged by many theatre department members helps in the tightness of the productions, but sometimes its a bit of friction that seals the work. The current production is enjoying a bit of varied Layton is for Shakespeares atmosphere in the form of rivalry between the two houses depicted in the plav the Montagues and the Capulets. One weapon in the rivalry is a newspaper of sorts that has been circulating around the theatre department. The Vuiona Times, contains mock stories of the main characters in the play. Layton feels the ribbing is a positive factor in the production of the play. This creates a sort of competition between the characters, says Layton, explaining that there are almost 40 characters in the play, and that in order to have anv emotion at all between the Montagues and the Capulets this mild tension must be kept up. We even considered separating the dressing rooms, she added. Layton also claimed that the personals in The Thunderbird have been an aid toward accomplishing this. Although Layton is very active in the theatre department, and has directed and assisted in diiecting several plays now, she has still managed to maintain a 3.5 grade point average. 1 have classes and work from nine to five, then blocking until seven, and a typical rehearsal would run until 11:30, she says. However, she also savs that on many nights the rehearsals run on until 2:30 in the morning, and that on many of those mornings she has a production meeting at 8 the following morning. Its hard to put theatre and school together, Layton says, but its the theatre work that will get me to graduate school, and the schooling that will get me out of here. good-nature- d |