[00:34.55]ED:Did you make notes while you were watching the performances of Romeo and Juliet, Gemma?
[00:39.13]GEMMA:Yes, I did. I found it quite hard though.
[00:42.66]I kept getting too involved in the play.
[00:45.14]ED:Me too. I ended up not taking notes.
[00:48.48]I wrote down my impressions when I got home.
[00:51.45]Do you mind if I check a few things with you?
[00:53.87]In case I’ve missed anything. And I’ve also got some questions about our assignment.
[00:58.95]GEMMA:No, it’s good to talk things through. I may have missed things too.
[01:03.73]ED:OK great. So first of all, I’m not sure how much information we should include in our reviews.
[01:10.89]GEMMA:Right. Well, I don’t think we need to describe what happens.
[01:15.70]Especially as Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare’s most well-known plays.
[01:20.43]ED:Yeah, everyone knows the story.
[01:23.22]In an essay we’d focus on the poetry and Shakespeare’s use of imagery etc., but that isn’t really relevant in a review.
[01:31.58]We’re supposed to focus on how effective this particular production is.
[01:35.85]GEMMA:Mmm. We should say what made it a success or a failure.
[01:40.68]ED:And part of that means talking about the emotional impact the performance had on us.
[01:45.50]I think that’s important.
[01:47.00]GEMMA:Yes. And we should definitely mention how well the director handled important bits of the play – like when Romeo climbs onto Juliet’s balcony.
[01:57.11]ED:And the fight between Mercutio and Tybalt.
[01:59.25]GEMMA:Yes. It would also be interesting to mention the theatre space and how the director used it but I don’t think we’ll have space in 800 words.
[02:09.50]ED:No. OK. That all sounds quite straightforward.
[03:20.99]ED:So what about The Emporium Theatre’s production of the play?
[03:24.89]GEMMA:I thought some things worked really well but there were some problems too.
[03:29.70]ED:Yeah. What about the set, for example?
[03:32.94]GEMMA:I think it was visually really stunning.
[03:36.41]I’d say that was probably the most memorable thing about this production.
[03:40.51]ED:You’re right. The set design was really amazing, but actually I have seen similar ideas used in other productions.
[03:49.22]GEMMA:What about the lighting? Some of the scenes were so dimly lit it was quite hard to see.
[03:54.98]ED:I didn’t dislike it. It helped to change the mood of the quieter scenes.
[04:00.18]GEMMA:That’s a good point.
[04:02.04]ED:What did you think of the costumes?
[04:03.91]GEMMA:I was a bit surprised by the contemporary dress, I must say.
[04:07.63]ED:Yeah – I think it worked well, but I had assumed it would be more conventional.
[04:12.45]GEMMA:Me too. I liked the music at the beginning and I thought the musicians were brilliant, but I thought they were wasted because the music didn’t have much impact in Acts 2 and 3.
[04:24.23]ED:Yes – that was a shame.
[04:26.00]GEMMA:One problem with this production was that the actors didn’t deliver the lines that well. They were speaking too fast.
[04:32.61]ED:It was a problem I agree, but I thought it was because they weren’t speaking loudly enough – especially at key points in the play.
[04:40.31]GEMMA:I actually didn’t have a problem with that.
[04:43.28]ED:It’s been an interesting experience watching different versions of Romeo and Juliet, hasn’t it?
[04:48.14]GEMMA:Definitely. It’s made me realise how relevant the play still is.
[04:52.89]ED:Right. I mean a lot’s changed since Shakespeare’s time, but in many ways nothing’s changed.
[04:58.33]There are always disagreements and tension between teenagers and their parents.
[05:02.76]GEMMA:Yes, that’s something all young people can relate to – more than the violence and the extreme emotions in the play.
[05:11.14]ED:How did you find watching it in translation?
[05:13.74]GEMMA:Really interesting. I expected to find it more challenging, but I could follow the story pretty well.
[05:20.62]ED:I stopped worrying about not being able to understand all the words and focused on the actors’ expressions. The ending was pretty powerful.
[05:28.35]GEMMA:Yes. That somehow intensified the emotion for me.
[05:32.69]ED:Did you know Shakespeare’s been translated into more languages than any other writer?
[05:39.19]GEMMA:What’s the reason for his international appeal, do you think?
[05:42.91]ED:I was reading that it’s because his plays are about basic themes that people everywhere are familiar with.
[05:49.14]GEMMA:Yeah, and they can also be understood on different levels. The characters have such depth.
[05:55.21]ED:Right – which allows directors to experiment and find new angles.
[05:59.80]GEMMA:That’s really important because...
