Taking it for granted that the assembled audience were familiar with William Shakespeare’s legendary tale (but were they?), this had a satin-dressing-gowned Peter shouting scene changes and zingers from the sidelines, several of the performers hilariously playing multiple roles (“Budget cuts!”), a joke about The Sound Of Music, and oodles of energy so as to get the thing finished in 15 minutes. Although, like last year, it actually took about 20 minutes!
Brian Wellington and Deborah Caddy were both Lord and Lady Montague AND Lord and Lady Capulet (awkward!), while Rob Cusenza camped it up wonderfully as a frisky, pink-wigged Nurse. Archie Rowe was also on hand to portray Tybalt and Ben V. Olio, Leighton Vogt was MercurioChrome (a name that would have puzzled Shakespeare), and actor/critic David O’Brien was a drug-addled Friar Laurence Olivier (!).
Christopher Cordeaux (last year’s Hamlet) broods again as the lovestruck Romeo, and Ruby Patrich is a luminous Juliet, and it’s nice that Goers’ lets quite a large chunk of their “Wherefore art thou, Romeo?” scene play without cuts or gags. Swoon!
It’s, of course, over all too quickly. And, to coin a phrase, parting is such sweet sorrow.
Romeo and Juliet in 15 minutes is at The Barbara Hardy Garden at Holden Street Theatres during Adelaide Fringe until 23 March. Get tickets here.
