John Neumeier:
Romeo & Juliet
Royal Danish Ballet,
The Old Stage
October 3, 2021
In 1975, I went to see John Neumeier´s ”Romeo & Juliet” with the Royal Danish Ballet. That visit turned me into a dedicate ballet fan and I have followed ballet ever since.
John Neumeier had created “Romeo & Juliet” in 1971 for the Frankfurt Ballett, and he took “Romeo & Juliet” with him to Hamburg Ballett in 1973 and then to the “Royal Danish Ballet” in 1974.
For the production of “Romeo & Juliet” in Copenhagen, the designer Jürgen Rose created an outstanding décor, that can change from outside to inside, thereby creating new scenes with very little time in changing.
The Danish audience, including me, fell in love with the ballet and it has been a mainstay in The Royal Danish Ballet repertoire, which has also included several others Neumeier creations like “A Midsummer Night´s Dream”, “Amled” (Hamlet), “The Little Mermaid”, “Lady of the Camelias” and ”Mahlers 3td Symphony”.
Looking back and forward
However, revisiting “Romeo and Juliet” always bring back the memories of the first viewings, where the leading roles principals Mette-Ida Kirk as Juliet, partnered by Ib Andersen and Arne Villumsen as the Romeo´s with Mette Hønningen as Lady Capulet and Niels Kehlet as Mercurtio. The combination of these and other following has helped “Romeo & Juliet” to survive and keep growing.
What John Neumeier gave to the RDB got returned by the stars and character dancers by sharing their skills and commitments. Looking back to earlier productions, it is still the same names of RDB dancers re-appearing. The may move to a smaller role, but they are still performing.
In Copenhagen “Romeo & Juliet” is usually performed with few years between the performances. This allows the audience to follow the developments of the dancers.
Principal Ida Praetorius is now presenting her third tour as Juliet and partnering her third Romeo. Ryan Tomash, who resenrly joined the RDB is now facing the key role as Romeo.
Considering that Ryan Tomash is fairly new to the company and the role, he made some very fine dancing as Romeo in his solos and proved good partnership.
However, he was less comfortable in the dramatic parts of the roles. Hopefully, he will develop with more performances, because there are a danseur noble in him. Being tall will also be an advantage for his further career.
The Gang
Looking at the other leading roles, the team of Jon Axel Fransson as Mercutio, Tobias Praetorius as Benvolio batters with their enemies Benjamin Buza as Tybalt and Emerson Morse as Prince Paris. Their enemies reach a very high level of controversy, comedy, fighting and killing.
Jon Axel Fransson was the lead in all this. Tobias Praetorius was almost as active as Jon Axel Fransson and Benjamin Buza as the drinking and fighting bad cat.
This is where the story turns to tragedy. Following Shakespeare the young star-crossed lovers both ends up losing their life.
Ida Praetorius is able to put more into the strong Juliet who takes her own life believing that her Romeo is death. The role of Romeo is – and has always been a quicker demise.
In all, this team and performance work very well and with a very high level of acting and dancing. There are scheduled two more star-crossed couples, Principal Andreas Kaas, whom played the role of Romeo last run, will now dance with Soloist Wilma Giglio as Juliet, while soloist Liam Redhead will partner Eukene Sagues.
Looking at the first cast, it might show out as well prepared as the first team.
Photoes(c) by Henrik Stenberg
Photos Copyright(c) Royal Danish Ballet
Ida Praetorius as Juliet
Ida Praetorius and Ryan Tomash as Juliet and Romeo
Emerson Moose as Prince Paris
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