Robert Hitchcock's review on the San Diego Theatre Scene web site

Romeo and Juliet - Coronado Playhouse

Romeo and Juliet is playing at the Tenth Annul Free Coronado Shakespeare Festival, produced by the Coronado Playhouse. The venue is the Coronado Playhouse tent at Coronado Ferry Landing, 1335 1st Street. Director Keith A. Anderson, who also adapted the work, has gathered a large, competent cast. Anderson’s adaptation is limited to the archaic words in favor of more understandable English. It adds much to the understandability of Shakespeare.

The prologue is sung by five costumed players. Almost immediately, a spectacular sword fight breaks out. Jeffrey James Lippold, who plays Mercutio, expertly choreographed the action. The plot thickens as Romeo (Anthony Misiano) and Juliet (Juliana Rotta) fall in love. Misiano and Rotta are excellent young lovers.

Elizabeth Mander-Wilson plays Juliet’s nanny with gusto. She is exciting to watch as she travels through countless emotions in her character’s struggle to influence her young charge. In Romeo’s corner is the good Friar Lawrence (Martin M. White). White’s demeanor bespeaks that of a man of the cloth. Also he is a man of the world. His counseling of Romeo is quite convincing.

Eva Kvaas (Lady Capulet, Juliet’s mother) is amazing as she travels through the emotions following the exploits of her daughter. Kvaas’ gowns are fabulous and always in perfect order. Romeo and Juliet is a series of small scenes thickening the plot, the romance, and the deception. The large cast handled its roles nicely.

The set design by Rosemary King captured the simplicity of theatre at the time of The Bard. There are two arches at entrances, another split arch at the back wall, as well as a couple of marble pillars that, with their cross piece, supported several light projectors and effects lighting. The set painting by King and Anthony Musiano, too, was understated. Dale Goodman’s lighting design defined the smaller playing areas as well as the larger action using the full stage.

The era costumes were Jane Russell and Mary Anderson’s design sewn by an able crew of seamstresses. Musiano (beside being Romeo and set painter) provided the masks used in the play. The codpieces didn’t work, seeming more like contemporary front packs, than an integrated costume item.

Director Anderson, along with his choreographers, had a daunting task to bring this big production to Coronado Playhouse’s Pavilion at the Ferry Landing. They should be proud of their cast and crew for a very nice production.

Cast members look past curse
David Raines, Contributor
Posted: 9/14/06

Wondering whether the curse of Shakespeare's Scottish play is real? Just ask the cast of The Coronado Playhouse's "Romeo and Juliet," which is now certain that the curse, laid upon those who utter the title of Shakespeare's famous tragedy about the king of Scotland (hint: it starts with "Mac" and ends with something that rhymes with "death"), is indeed real.

Two weeks before opening night, one luckless actor let the dreaded word slip, and before rehearsal the next day, a fire sprinkler malfunctioned, drenching The Coronado Playhouse theater in a downpour that lasted for 30 minutes.

"Fortunately no one was up on the stage," producer Mary Anderson said. "Otherwise, someone could have easily gotten hurt."

For the last two years, while a new theater was being constructed just 100 feet from the old facility along the Silver Strand, The Coronado Playhouse was located in a temporary tent in Coronado called the Pavilion.

"Romeo and Juliet" was to be the company's first Shakespearean production in the new theater; however, the recent flooding resulted in a frantic relocation back to the Pavilion, where conditions are not quite as swanky for the actors.

"We were spoiled at the new theater," said Eva Kvaas, who plays Lady Capulet.

Curses and inconveniences aside, the cast appears to be having a great time coping with this unforeseen washout as they depict some of Shakespeare's more famous characters.

Jeffrey James Lippold delivers a saucy interpretation as Romeo's friend Mercutio, thrusting his hips with self-satisfied innuendo. There are rapiers abound as the cast engages in a handful of swordfights that at one point involves an entire group of swashbuckling Capulets and Montagues.

This otherwise traditional retelling of the famous romantic tragedy utilizes a modern language text - certain archaic or obsolete words have been clarified for a modern audience - without sacrificing Shakespeare's distinct style.

External-industrial appearances aside, the Pavilion provides a pleasant venue for "Romeo and Juliet." It is a relaxed, informal affair where the audience is welcome to mix and mingle with the cast after the play. The Coronado Bay setting is pleasant in this balmy weather, and the theater doors are left open during the performance to allow a nice cross-breeze.

Making the best of a bad situation, The Coronado Playhouse has bounced back from its own mini-tragedy without a hitch. Some curses may be a blessing in disguise.

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