The Imperial Russian Ballet's production of Romeo and Juliet at Aotea Centre
by BERNADETTE RAE for the New Zealand Herald

It begins well. During the final moments of the overture the curtain rises on a tableau of duelling Montagues and Capulets, which melts away to fleetingly reveal the small, pale figures of Romeo and Juliet.

It is a striking mood-setter.

But the rest of the hour-long first act is a drawn-out and old-fashioned rendition of the familiar story with an over-abundance of jolly crowd scenes and hammed-up swordfighting.

published: March 27, 2006