SHAKESPEARE’S Romeo and Juliet remains the yardstick by which families should gauge their teenager's first love.
A passion, often so deep, wise parents won't either mock or forbid. Which is why, over centuries, Shakespeare’s R&J theme has gripped creative minds and been reworked into books, stage shows and ballets.
Yet, when Sergei Prokofiev composed his famous score, Soviet ideology demanded a happy ending.
While bickering bureaucrats in Leningrad and Moscow argued over producing the ballet the world premiere took place, not on Russian soil but in Czechoslovakia on December 30, 1938, with Brno Ballet.
This gave Prokofiev the opportunity to compose a new finale which concluded in tragedy – as Shakespeare intended.
Two years later, Soviet authorities agreed to permit that ending and since January 11, 1940, when Russia’s prima ballerina assoluta Galina Ulanova and Konstantin Sergeyev danced the tragic lovers at the Kirov, that has been the interpretation countless choreographers have used to choreograph R&J on international ballet companies.
Included among these is Veronica Paeper’s 1975 account for Capab Ballet, now Cape Town City Ballet (CTCB).
However, CTCB’s board recently decided that after 41 successful years, a new version was due.
So, for the past six months artistic director Robin van Wyk has spent time devising his own three-act ballet.
Asked why Romeo and Juliet, Van Wyk responded: “Taking stock of our previous Maynardville open-air productions, we thought a completely fresh ballet should be offered.
"One that slots into Maynardville’s sylvan setting and can be worked around the rostrum and sets used for Artscape’s annual Shakespeare play, Twelfth Night.
"R&J fitted those demands neatly.”
Famous for listening to, then trimming, musical scores to suit his libretto, Van Wyk has done the same with Prokofiev’s music.
“As Prokofiev’s R&J is, arguably, the finest ballet music, I couldn’t trim too much.
"Nonetheless, it took recording/sound whizz-kid Gerhard Huizinga and myself hours to finally cut back Act 1 to 48 minutes and Acts 2 and 3 to 55 minutes without disturbing Prokofiev’s magnificence.
"Gerhard is first rate at giving every instrument full value as well as balancing volume – often a problem at Maynardville where speakers are positioned side front.”
Shortened scenes include the Carnaval.
But Van Wyk, taking into consideration CTCB’s male contingent is particularly strong at the moment, has now placed more emphasis on male protagonists.
“To show them off I’ve given them a lot of dancing to do.
"I’ve also worked in a pas de deux between Paris and Juliet – something often missing in other interpretations.”
Questioned about style and period, Van Wyk replied: “The style is classical with a contemporary (meaning of the now) feel.
"In pas de deux the lifts are really tricky and I’ve introduced quite a bit of mime – watch how Nurse tells Juliet she is a woman and ready to marry.
“Obviously, opening at Maynardville, it's necessary to choreograph around the stage's width rather than depth.
"As for costumes, most come from our wardrobe, revamped by our wizard wardrobe mistress, Anette Franz.
"They're light and bright without the usual heavy velvets/brocades.
"The Montagues wear blue. The Capulets wear burgundy.
"When Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio slip into the Capulet’s masque they blend by wearing Capulet colours.”
Van Wyk develops Romeo and Juliet’s love story from their discovery of each other, through their child-like love in the balcony scene (playing pat a cake), to regret at Romeo’s imminent banishment to their fateful tomb scene.
Alternating casts as Juliet Laura Bösenberg’s Romeo is Thomas Thorne; Kim Vieira’s Romeo is Ivan Boonzaaier; and Rosamund Ford’s Romeo is Revil Yon.
Daniel Szybkowski, Conrad Nusser and Mark Goldberg alternate as Paris.
Martin Milner and Craig Pedro share Mercutio, and Xola Putye, Daniel Szybkowski and Conrad Nusser are alternate Tybalts.
Retired ballerinas Nicolette Loxton is Juliet’s faithful Nurse and Janet Lindup is Lady Capulet.
l Presented by CTCB, Sundays only at 8.15pm from January 22 to February 26, Robin van Wyk’s new Romeo and Juliet at Maynardville open air theatre is a summer must. Book: Computicket or Dial-a-Seat.