Romeo and Juliet

A BBC Radio 3 full-cast dramatisation

By: William Shakespeare

Narrated by: full cast, Trystan Gravelle, Vanessa Kirby

A full-cast BBC Radio 3 production of Shakespeare’s quick-witted summer tragedy.

In a town full of hatred, where the streets ring with the Capulet-Montague feud,and swords are too easily drawn, Romeo and Juliet find each other--and love--and never let go.

In Shakespeare’s famous play, first performed in 1595, the warring Capulets and Montagues have been sworn to keep the peace on pain of death. When Capulet’s daughter, Juliet, meets Montague’s son, Romeo, at a masked ball, they immediately fall in love. With the help of Friar Lawrence and Juliet’s Nurse, the pair decide to marry in secret. Disaster strikes when Romeo is banished for murder,and flees after just one night with his new wife. Juliet, meanwhile, is betrothed against her wishes to Count Paris. Friar Lawrence intervenes to help, but tragedy is at hand…

Rising young stars Trystan Gravelle and Vanessa Kirby play the star-crossed lovers, with David Tennant as Prince Escalus, Rosie Cavaliero as the Nurse, and Ron Cook as Friar Lawrence.

©2015 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2015 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Sad

This appears to be another entry in the same BBC series as "Hamlet" with Jamie Parker. The cast is largely unfamiliar (to me), apart from Ron Cook and David Tennant. But they all perform with gusto, and with its first-rate production values and music, it is one of the most riveting productions of the play I've heard.

Like the production of "Hamlet," there's one textual oddity to take note of. Most of the cuts are minor, but one significant scene was cut, and apart from time constraints, I can't figure out why. The scene with Peter and his list of guests to invite is missing. It's not a big scene, granted; it's only there to help connect the dots. It explains how Romeo and his friends learned about Capulet's ball and decided to attend. Without the scene, their arrival at the ball seems a bit disjointed.

But that's the only false note. Romeo and Juliet are especially affecting in this production, and the fight scenes are brief and brutal. David Tennant plays a subdued Prince Escalus, and Ron Cook a sad and reflective Friar Lawrence.

Even with the missing scene, this is an outstanding production and well worth a listen.

Fine performances and peculiar editorial choices

Removing the men’s banter before the first brawl, cutting the scene with the illiterate invitation-bearing messenger…. Small pivotal bits were snipped from the play, cutting little time and unstitching continuity and meaning.

The performances range from solid to excellent, with David Tennant delivering a notably complex, understated, controlled, and emotionally rich Escalus.

If only they’d left the play intact….