Romeo, played by Britain’s Dan Wilder (R) and Juliet, played by Rachel Lynes

An innovative production of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is enchanting Vietnamese audiences.

Founded in 1980 by Paul Stebbings and a group of actors trained in Britain and Poland, the company’s notable productions include “Brave New World,” “Lord of the Flies,” “Fahrenheit 451,” “The Crucible,” “Oliver Twist” and many of Shakespeare’s greatest plays including their recent award-winning rendition of “Hamlet.”

According to local stage director Le Quy Duong, inviting the troupe to play in Vietnam was part of a culture and arts exchange program running until 2010, to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of ancient capital of Thang Long, present-day Hanoi.

The story of star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet has been adored by millions since Shakespeare wrote the play more than 500 years ago. Before Shakespeare, many poets and writers had written similar tragedies about teenage love and feuding families, but it was Shakespeare who made Romeo and Juliet the iconic symbols of tragic love.

“‘Romeo and Juliet’ is neither a classical tragedy nor even a traditional romance. It is a play that has become a myth and the myth obscures the play. Great ballets, musicals and films have transformed the original beyond recognition. In approaching this most famous fiction, a director must take care not to dramatize what the audiences think,” said TNT’s Stebbings.

The British director said he had added new elements to the work including the personification of the Angel of Death and music by composer John Dowland, a contemporary of Shakespeare’s Stebbings’ version of “Romeo and Juliet” has played in 40 countries including the US, Germany, Scotland and Japan.

The play, currently being performed in the Ho Chi Minh City Drama Theater, houses a stage that is reminiscent of ancient British troupes in the 16th century. The minimalistic staging is effective, however, with just a couple of pillars, a curtain, two moveable walls and some wooden boxes.

There are just seven actors in the drama who play multiple roles changing from one character into another in just seconds.

“I think the original [play] is so finely tuned, gripping but hard to understand. So we focus on the performances and the ‘look’ to make the play close to everyone’s heart. You can not understand every word, but can understand the play in every [other] way,” said Natalia Campbell who plays the Nurse and other supporting roles.

Actress Rachel Lynes, who plays the young and innocent 13-year-old Juliet, spent four weeks preparing for the role.

“I try to recall my first love; try to listen again to my heartbeat awakened by love. I always wonder whether their [Romeo and Juliet’s] affection is love or just an ebullient emotion of youth. Romeo and Juliet often challenge each other. I think this maybe creates the story’s connections and from there emerged true love,” said Lynes.

Romeo is played by Dan Wilder, the former leader of a clown troupe for children and a guitarist in Britain.

“I did not try to approach Romeo but let his feelings go through myself. For two-and-a-half years [traveling] with the troupe, my house was a hotel room, and it [feels like] I am not only British but also a citizen of the world. But I love my fast, fun, free life, though I have to die nearly every day… on stage,” said Wilder.

The innovative switches from tragedy to comedy leave theatergoers almost breathless. Vietnamese subtitles are provided, and audience members say they are so caught up in the theatrical magic, the subtitles do not hurt the quality of the production.

When asked what they thought might happen if the characters had not died at the end of the play, the TNT members had some interesting opinions. “If Romeo did not die, maybe they would get married and then divorced,” said “Romeo” Wilder.

“Life is unfair and love is still beautiful. ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is about the heartfelt and tragic ending. Would it have been remembered throughout the centuries had Shakespeare kept Romeo alive?” asked “Nurse” Campbell.

Performances of “Romeo and Juliet” in HCMC will run until May 10 at the HCMC Drama Theater at 30 Tran Hung Dao Street, District 1. It will then show in Hanoi from May 13-14 at the Hanoi Opera House at 1 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem District.

Tickets are available for between VND100,000- 500,000 (US$5.52-28) at the theaters. Online bookings can be made via e-mail at vacepduonglequy@hotmail.com and nguyentrankimtruc@yahoo.com or phone 0915 089 786.

Reported by Kim