ROMEO AND
JULIET
February 14-March 2, 2008
MUSIC: Sergei Prokofiev
CHOREOGRAPHY: John Cranko
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casting information
Thursday, February 14 and February
28 at 7pm
Friday, February 15 and February
29 at 8pm
Saturday, February 16 and March
1 at 2pm and 8pm
Sunday, February 17 at 2pm and 7pm
Sunday, March
2 at 2pm
The Company launches its 2008 season on
Valentine’s Day with John Cranko’s acclaimed staging of
Romeo & Juliet. With this production, Boston Ballet
becomes only the second U.S. ballet company to perform
Cranko’s Romeo & Juliet and the only American
company to boast three of Cranko’s greatest works as part of
its extensive repertoire (The Taming of The Shrew, Onegin
and Romeo & Juliet). This is the third full-length
masterpiece by Cranko to enter Boston Ballet’s
repertory.
Cranko’s Romeo & Juliet premiered
in 1962 and was first performed by the Stuttgart Ballet. His
exquisitely rendered ballet, set to Sergei Prokofiev’s
magnificent score, is an inspired realization of William
Shakespeare’s timeless tale. While Prokofiev’s original
composition initially faced heavy criticism, it has become one of
the most popular of all ballet compositions. When the Stuttgart
Ballet danced the American premiere of John Cranko’s Romeo
and Juliet in 1969, Clive Barnes wrote in The New York
Times that this staging of Prokofiev’s score “is,
quite simply, the best of a surprisingly distinguished bunch. Many
choreographers have attempted the score . . . but it has been left
to Cranko to give the work its complete fulfillment.”
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Synopsis
Act I
Scene 1 A Street in Verona,
Italy
The scene is set in the early Renaissance, about 1400. Romeo, son
of Lord Montague, is infatuated with Rosalind and flirts with her
in the courtyard. The city begins to awaken and the townspeople
open the market for trade. But all is not peaceful. The
city’s two most powerful families, the Capulets and the
Montagues, are feuding bitterly. Playful teasing soon turns into a
brawl as members of the opposing families draw swords and begin to
fight. Romeo joins his friends, Mercutio and Benvolio, and the
three become involved in the brawl. The riot is quelled by the
arrival of the Duke of Verona, who decrees the death penalty if
either family disturbs the peace again.
Scene 2 The
Capulet’s Garden
Juliet, the young daughter of Lord Capulet, plays with her Nurse.
Her mother joins them bringing Juliet the dress she is to wear that
evening to her first ball. Excited, Juliet dances about with her
dress, but stops suddenly when she realizes that her carefree
childhood is coming to an end.
Scene 3 The Foyer of
the Capulet’s Palace
Elegant guests arrive at the ball. Although not invited, Romeo,
Mercutio and Benvolio boldly make their way into the foyer, cloaked
and masked as revellers.
Scene 4 The
Capulet’s Ballroom
Juliet shyly arrives at the ball and is introduced to Count Paris,
to whom she is betrothed. While Juliet is dancing with Paris, she
and Romeo see one another for the first time and fall in love. They
steal a few moments together away from the guests until Tybalt,
Juliet’s cousin, recognizes Romeo and challenges him to a
duel. Lord Capulet stops the disturbance.
Scene 5 Juliet’s
Balcony
Later the same night, Romeo hides in the Capulet’s garden and
overhears Juliet professing her love for him. Romeo reveals himself
to Juliet and the young lovers swear their eternal devotion.
Act II
Scene 1 A Street in Verona
Verona is celebrating a festive holiday. Juliet’s Nurse finds
her way through the crowd in search of Romeo to give him a note
from her mistress. Juliet has agreed to meet Romeo secretly in
Friar Laurence’s cell where they can be married.
Scene 2 Friar
Laurence’s Cell
Friar Laurence marries the young lovers, hoping that this will end
the feud between their two families.
Scene 3 A Street in
Verona
The festivities are interrupted by Tybalt, who is intent upon
resuming his quarrel with Romeo. Romeo, however, is aware that
Juliet’s relatives are now his own, so he avoids a duel with
Tybalt. Mercutio, appalled at his friend’s apparent lack of
spirit, accepts Tybalt’s challenge on Romeo’s behalf.
In attempting to stop the fight, Romeo inadvertently causes
Mercutio’s death. Shocked out of his peaceful resolution,
Romeo kills Tybalt, avenging his friend. Lady Capulet witnesses the
death, and grieves over her dead nephew.
ACT III
Scene 1 Juliet’s Bedroom
Romeo, banished from Verona for killing Tybalt, has remained for
his wedding night with Juliet. At dawn, he is forced to leave.
Juliet’s parents enter with Paris and inform her that she is
to marry Paris the next day. In desperation Juliet hurries away to
seek advice from Friar Laurence.
Scene 2 Friar
Laurence’s Cell
Reluctantly, Friar Laurence gives Juliet a vial containing a
sleeping potion that will induce a death-like coma. He will send a
message to Romeo, telling him what has happened, and he will return
to rescue her from the family vault.
Scene 3 Juliet’s
Bedroom
Filled with fear and doubts, Juliet forces herself to drink the
potion and falls unconscious on the bed. In the morning
Juliet’s bridesmaids arrive to present her with flowers. Lady
Capulet and the Nurse are unable to wake Juliet and presume she is
dead.
Scene 4 The Capulet
Vault
Juliet is laid to rest in the Capulet Vault. Romeo has heard of
Juliet’s death, but has not received Friar Laurence’s
explanatory letter. He hurries to her tomb and finds Paris there.
In desperation Romeo kills Paris. Believing Juliet to be dead,
Romeo takes his own life. Juliet, recovering from the potion, is
horrified to find Romeo dead beside her. Unable to live without
him, she joins him in death.