When a story is retold as often as Romeo and Juliet, the manner in which it’s told is of utmost importance. An epic story, often centered around the strife between feuding families and two young lovers desperate to be together, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet has been interpreted for the stage in an array of ways. In the past, Atlanta Ballet performed choreographer Michael Pink’s version of the ballet, a work known for its luscious movement and ornate sets. This year, Atlanta Ballet presents Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Romeo and Juliette, a version that highlights the young love and complex emotions experienced by the two adolescent lovers, as well as the guilty conscience of Friar Laurence. Maillot’s angular choreography and the exquisitely stark set designs of Ernest Mignon-Ernest compel the audience to focus on the dancing. The ballet opened with Friar Laurence being pulled in opposite directions by two acolytes. Atlanta Ballet veteran John Welker, who danced the role of Friar Laurence, believably embodied the character with every pull and push. Welker’s downward movements compelled the audience to feel the weight of his responsibility. More than any other character, Friar Laurence’s movements reflected the angular architecture of the set. Without dancers, the set […]
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