Initially we hear jokes from Alex and Ben, quirky, off the wall and original humour, routines like for instance the difficult mirror act. Ben talks about “life in the forces” only for Alex to prick his bubble by exposing that Ben was working for Parcel Force. They use props in the travelling trunk and introduce the idea that props look smaller onstage than off.
What is thrilling about this production is the two principal actors, Rebekah Morrell as Juliet and Alfred Enoch as Romeo. The love and attraction connection between these two is believable and we want them to succeed. They both speak the verse really well so we can hear every word in this space, when at some time, because of columns, we will be unable to see who is speaking.
June (Naana Agyei-Ampadu) is dying of breast cancer which has developed secondary cancers. June is probably the least obviously dramatic of the four. She is a lighting designer and the playwright’s directions in the text is that the lighting has to be “wonderful beyond belief”. As she faces death we can see what is important to her as she quietly and sadly enjoys what little time she may have left.