By Kimberlee St. Clair
William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the well-known tale of two young lovers divided by their feuding families, is beautifully presented by the Utah Metropolitan Ballet at the Covey Center for the Arts in Provo, Utah. Composed by Sergei Prokefiev and choreographed by Jacqueline P. Colledge, UMB’s founder and artistic director. And you don’t want to miss this gorgeous, tragic ballet.
Truly a spectacular site, beautiful floor-to-ceiling curtains set the scene, with cobblestone pathways and rustic homes. The Square in Verona is filled with dancers in stunning costumes (Theoni V. Aldredge), clearly creating a division among families with various shades of reds and blues. Each dress is exquisite in design, captivating the audience as each member of the company fills the stage and brings the story to life.
Displaying his strength and agility, Ballet West Soloist Jordan Veit perfectly fits the role of Romeo. His ability to perform all of the lifts with delicate ease, while displaying strength during the sword fights with Tybalt (Colin Hathaway), an unlikeable villain, combined with stellar technique, give Jordan perfect balance throughout the entire production.
Mallory Moon Wilson (Katelyn Conrad) as Juliet is dynamic and graceful. Perfectly timed facial expressions and body language tell her deep emotions, from her love for Romeo, to her dismay at the forced marriage to Paris (Timothy Silver, Eric Ascione). With phenomenal technique, Mallory shines as she interprets the emotions of teenager Juliet, and our hearts ache for her as she dies for love.
The hero’s friends Benvolio (Luis Capetillo) and Mercutio (Qing Sun) nearly steal the show from Romeo with all their antics and teasing. It’s hard to keep up with all the funny things they do, from popping out from underneath ladies dresses to waving their hips from side to side as they imitate party goers, these two are not to be missed. Sun, in particular, is comical throughout but the true thrill is watching him as he leaps and completes a series of pirouettes that brings the audience to full applause.
Also adding uplifting moments from the start, Juliet’s Nurse (Angela Nielsen), holds her own as she delivers an outstanding performance as Juliet’s confidant. She humorously tolerates being lifted up and carried around the stage as she tries to deliver a letter to Romeo.
The final scene is beautifully staged, and as candles are carried across the dark stage, the weight of the moment is heavy. As Veit dances with Juliet’s lifeless body, it is a truly poignant moment and heartache is heavy.
Always a classic, Shakespeare’s tales never truly die. His stories of love and war seem to ring true in every era of time. Utah Metropolitan Ballet’s rendition of Romeo and Juliet will engulf you with the beauty and innocence of falling in love for the first time.
Appropriate for families.
Romeo and Juliet presented by Utah Metropolitan Ballet, Choreographed by Jacqueline P. Colledge
Covey Center for the Arts, 425 W Center St., Provo, UT 84601
March 7-9, 2019 7:30 PM
Tickets: $15 – $17
Contact: 801- 852-7007
Utah Metropolitan Ballet Facebook Page
Romeo and Juliet Facebook Event
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