Monday, June 5, 2023
Subscriber Login
My Profile
SpotlightNews
  • Home
  • News
    • Election 2022
    • Business
      • Spotlight On Business
      • Spotlight on Finance
    • Crime and Police
    • Discover-Towns
      • Discover Coeymans Selkirk and Feura Bush
      • Discover Delmar
      • Discover Glenmont
      • Discover Guilderland
      • Discover Latham and Boght
      • Discover Loudonville
      • Discover Menands
      • Discover Slingerlands
      • Discover Village of Colonie
      • Discover Voorheesville and New Scotland
    • Fire Departments
    • Government
    • Milestones
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Obituaries
  • The Spot 518
    • Galleries
    • Art
    • Food and Recipes
    • Health & Fitness
    • Music
    • Theatre
  • Hot Spots Calendar
    • Calendar Listings
    • Submit Your Event
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Our Opinion
    • Point of View
    • Your Opinion
  • Family Now
    • Parenting News
    • Senior News
  • Towns
    • Albany County
    • Bethlehem
    • Colonie
    • Guilderland
    • New Scotland
  • Classifieds
    • Employment – Hire Power
    • Services In the Spotlight
    • Classified Listings
    • Advertiser Login
  • Subscribe
    • Subscriber login
    • Give the gift of news
    • Join us – subscribe today
    • Newsletter sign up
    • Renew Subscription
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Election 2022
    • Business
      • Spotlight On Business
      • Spotlight on Finance
    • Crime and Police
    • Discover-Towns
      • Discover Coeymans Selkirk and Feura Bush
      • Discover Delmar
      • Discover Glenmont
      • Discover Guilderland
      • Discover Latham and Boght
      • Discover Loudonville
      • Discover Menands
      • Discover Slingerlands
      • Discover Village of Colonie
      • Discover Voorheesville and New Scotland
    • Fire Departments
    • Government
    • Milestones
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Obituaries
  • The Spot 518
    • Galleries
    • Art
    • Food and Recipes
    • Health & Fitness
    • Music
    • Theatre
  • Hot Spots Calendar
    • Calendar Listings
    • Submit Your Event
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Our Opinion
    • Point of View
    • Your Opinion
  • Family Now
    • Parenting News
    • Senior News
  • Towns
    • Albany County
    • Bethlehem
    • Colonie
    • Guilderland
    • New Scotland
  • Classifieds
    • Employment – Hire Power
    • Services In the Spotlight
    • Classified Listings
    • Advertiser Login
  • Subscribe
    • Subscriber login
    • Give the gift of news
    • Join us – subscribe today
    • Newsletter sign up
    • Renew Subscription
No Result
View All Result
Spotlight News
No Result
View All Result
Home The Spot Entertainment

NYC Ballet treats SPAC patrons to stirring production of ‘Romeo and Juliet’

Michael Hallisey by Michael Hallisey
July 25, 2018
in Entertainment, The Spot
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Lauren Lovette, New York City Ballet principal dancer.
Lauren Lovette / Instagram

Lauren Lovette, New York City Ballet principal dancer. Lauren Lovette / Instagram

#NYCBallet #SaratogaPerformingArtsCenter #Dance #TheSpot518

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The ubiquitous storyline of Romeo and Juliet is recognized by all ages. In the past century alone, the tragedy between the two star-crossed lovers has been shared in several different mediums; by animated garden gnomes in recent memory. Perhaps one of my favorite original productions involved Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes set in a contemporary world where rapiers were replaced with pistols. I had the pleasure of reviewing that Baz Luhrmann film 20 years ago, and find myself reviewing yet another production of the William Shakespeare original, this time featuring the New York City Ballet.

Just as it was foreign for me to hear Shakespeare’s iambic pentameter in Luhrmann’s film uttered by young adults dressed and today’s fashion, there was an equal amount of adjustment required to accept the omission of the Bard’s words entirely.

The audience was quickly able to discern the Capulets, in their fiery shades of red and yellows, from those of the Montagues, clad in earthly tones of green and blue. Certainly a requirement that would be important throughout the rest of the play. Backstory, just in case, the Capulets and Montagues are two families that don’t get along. It’s the Verona equivalent of the Hatfields and McCoys. The feud between these two families escalates when Romeo, the son of Lord and Lady Montague, falls smittened by Juliet, daughter of Lord and Lady Capulet, at a party he and his friends crash. And, so starts the thread.

As a wordsmith, Shakespeare is known for his subtle play on the language. In this production of dance and symphony, the nuance of movement between two dancers is equally as powerful.

On the Thursday matinee performance, principal performers included Lauren Lovette (Juliet) and Anthony Huxley (Mercutio). Mercutio was easy to identify from his first appearance in the opening scene. His pirouettes and tours were appropriate for the flamboyant friend compared to the initially reserved Romeo, played by Peter Walker. Walker’s Romeo was characterized by less pronounced kicks at the beginning of the production. Walker’s movements expanded as the storyline progressed.

Peter Martin’s subtleties are most evident in the movements he choreographed for both Walker’s Romeo and Lovette’s Juliet. As Walker’s moves become more pronounced, you see an equal progression in Juliet. The childish shuffling of her feet at her introduction in the second scene quickly morphs into the confident movements of a woman. Just as in character development, you see the same in the act of storytelling as one sees the Capulets attempt to steer their daughter into the arms of Paris, another suitor. A dance arrangement involving Juliet, her parents, Tybalt and Paris starts with daughter and suitor on opposite ends of a line, with one parent guiding each of their hands under the watchful eye of the antagonist cousin. Through a series of circles, Juliet and Paris are drawn ever closer until they meet, and she swiftly rejects him.

Mercutio’s charismatic side comes to life in the same ballroom scene as Huxley has his character steal away each Capulet woman, while toying and taunting an increasingly agitated Tybalt.

The beauty of the New York City Ballet supplants that of William Shakespeare’s own words in the garden scene under Juliet’s balcony. Though Lovette and Walker are not often paired with one another, seeing Lovette raised and draped over her partner, her character succumbing to the passion budding between the two, stirred emotions Shakespeare’s words could not. The imagery would linger enough to provide a needed punch to the final scene. Though the outcome is expected by all within the audience, the choreography nonetheless is heart wrenching and beautiful.

Lovette was the star of the performance. Juliet’s transformation from child to adult was captured with intense artistry. She put on a dynamic display of fear, passion and agony through both the execution of her steps and dramatic acting.

Tags: NYC BalletRomeo and JulietSPAC
ShareTweetShareShare
Previous Post

Almost Queen canceled due to impending bad weather

Next Post

Richbell Capital buys Tobin’s

Leave Comment

Stay Connected with Us

Recent News

Memorial Meltdown was held at Charles R. Wood Park in Lake George, Saturday, May 27.

SPOTTED: Memorial Meltdown 2023

June 5, 2023

OBITUARY: Annmarie Griffiths of Slingerlands

June 5, 2023
The Sure Stay Hotel on Wolf Road in Colonie. Photo by Amy Modesti/ Spotlight News

Migrants come to Colonie – Plan for 400 to stay at Sure Stay Hotel stopped with suit

June 5, 2023

Bethlehem Area Weekly Police Blotter May 24th – 31st

June 4, 2023

Hot Stories This Week

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Delmar Fire Department

Updated – Breaking News: Multiple building fire near Cherry and Kenwood Avenues

May 30, 2023
Photo by Tom Heffernan Sr.

Arrest made in Delmar Deer Run Apartment fire – Video

June 2, 2023

Colonie Area Weekly Police Blotter May 24th – 31st

June 3, 2023
The Bethlehem Memorial Day Parade on May 29, 2023.

SPOTTED: Memorial Day Parade in Bethlehem

June 1, 2023
Memorial Meltdown was held at Charles R. Wood Park in Lake George, Saturday, May 27.

SPOTTED: Memorial Meltdown 2023

June 5, 2023

OBITUARY: Annmarie Griffiths of Slingerlands

June 5, 2023
The Sure Stay Hotel on Wolf Road in Colonie. Photo by Amy Modesti/ Spotlight News

Migrants come to Colonie – Plan for 400 to stay at Sure Stay Hotel stopped with suit

June 5, 2023

Bethlehem Area Weekly Police Blotter May 24th – 31st

June 4, 2023
Spotlight News

Spotlight News, The Spot 518 and Capital District Family Now are divisions of Community Media Group, LLC. Our local offices are located at 341 Delaware Ave, Delmar, NY 12054. You can contact us at 518.439.4949.

Browse

Follow Us

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact the Editor
  • Employment
  • Our Team
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Legal Notices Portal

© 2022 Community Media Group, LLC - 341 Delaware Ave. Delmar, NY 12054. 518.439.4949

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Election 2022
  • News
    • Crime and Police
    • Fire Departments
    • Milestones
    • Real Estate and Housing
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Spotlight On Business
    • Spotlight on Finance
  • The Spot 518
    • Galleries
    • Art
    • Theatre
    • Music
    • Food and Drink
    • Health & Fitness
  • Hot Spots Calendar
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Opinion
  • Classifieds
    • Advertiser Login
    • Service Directory
    • Hire Power – Employer Spotlight
  • Capital District Family Now
    • Parenting News
    • Senior News
  • Towns
    • Albany County
    • Bethlehem
    • Colonie
    • Guilderland
  • Log In
  • Subscribe

© 2022 Community Media Group, LLC - 341 Delaware Ave. Delmar, NY 12054. 518.439.4949