Download Review – Romeo and Juliet: Superstar Ice

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Review – Romeo and Juliet: Superstar Ice
Miners of Europa
Mysterious Entity adaptation runs until November 9 at
Theatre on King in Peterborough
by Sam Tweedle
Published November 5, 2014
1
Ken Gibb and Sarah McNeilly star as the star-crossed lovers in this inventive postapocalyptic version of the Shakespeare play (photo: Sam Tweedle)
For centuries, audiences have loved the tragic romance of Romeo and Juliet, but this
week Mysterious Entity brings the world’s most famous love story to the Peterborough
stage in a new and exciting way with Romeo and Juliet: Superstar Ice Miners of Europa.
Entertaining, clever, intelligent, and performed to perfection, the greatest tragedy of this
production will be if you miss it.
Adapted by Kate Story and directed by Em Glasspool, this imaginative version places the
two star-crossed lovers in the far-flung future. Borrowing elements from science fiction
staples such as Flash Gordon, Barbarella, Firefly, Dune, Star Wars, 1984 and The
Hunger Games, this version is not only a lot of fun but stays remarkably close to William
Shakespeare’s original source.
The result is a highly visual and enjoyable piece of theatre.
Mysterious Entity takes you to a time and place far away from our own, to the Jupiter
moon of Europa where two rival companies, The Montys and The Caps, mine the moon’s
surface for Earth’s most valuable resource: water. The exploits and trials of the miners
are transmitted back to Earth as a reality television series where the miners are deemed
celebrities. Each night the miners end their day by going to the only bar on the moon,
where they drink and feud at the audience’s delight.
When a new miner named Juliet who works for The Caps catches the eye of The Montys
mining superstar Romeo, things start heating up on Europa — making ratings go through
the roof.
There are so many elements that make this production a treat that it’s almost impossible
to point them all out in a single review.
Kate Story, who also plays the role of “The Prince” (both the bar owner and the producer
of the reality show) has created an extremely original and intelligent adaptation of a story
that we’ve all seen done a million times before. She has amalgamated characters, turned
scenes on their head, and shortened the script greatly; still, it’s unquestionably Romeo
and Juliet.
Kate Story, who wrote the adaptation and designed the costumes, also performs as The
Prince (photo: Sam Tweedle)
Story has also incorporated elements of bigotry, industrialization, corporate rivalry,
reality television, social media, and the rivalry between technology and communication.
This makes the original concept fresh — and the payoff is incredible.
Em Glasspool (who also performs in the role of Paris) directs a fabulous company of
players that brings Shakespeare’s characters to life in an alien background. The cast
includes Ryan Kerr as Tybalt, Taylor Beatty as Mercutio, Dianne Latchford as “Barkeep”
Laurence, Hilary Wear as MAB (Multi Access Bio Network) and, in the leads, Kenn
Gibb as Romeo and Sarah McNeilly as Juliet.
Each actor gives a standout performance, making Glasspool’s space opera come alive in a
memorable show that will stick with the audience.
Kenn Gibb excels at being charming; anyone who has seen him on the stage knows this.
So he’s a natural when it comes to playing Romeo. Sheepish, dreamy, and a total
romantic, he has a puppy-dog appeal as he foolishly falls in love with Juliet — despite
knowing that the cameras are watching and that consorting between The Caps and The
Montys is not allowed. Gibb gives a passionate performance, filled with lots of boyish
charm, and proves a likeable hero with a tragic ending.
Sarah McNeilly turns the role of Juliet on its head in a surprising interpretation of the
character. Gone is the naive and gooey-eyed ingénue from the Shakespeare original.
Instead, she’s replaced by a confident and independent grown woman who’s more in
control of her situation than the traditional Juliet character. McNelly gives a strong and
sexy performance with her original version of Juliet — a welcome change to what we’ve
seen before.
One of the most fantastic elements of the show is the incredible costumes created by Kate
Story. Combining the modness of Barbarella with the steampunk of Firefly, the costumes
are a triumph that add to the strong visual experience of the production.
Whatever your plans are for this weekend, if going to Romeo and Juliet: Superstar Ice
Miners of Europa isn’t included then you’re making a mistake. This is one of the coolest
productions I have ever seen on the Peterborough stage. Entertaining, clever, intelligent,
and performed to perfection, the greatest tragedy of this production will be if you miss it.
Romeo and Juliet: Superstar Ice Miners of Europa runs from Wednesday, November 5th
to Sunday, November 9th at The Theatre on King at 159 King Street, Suite 120 in
Peterborough (entrance is around the back). The show starts at 8 p.m., except for the
Sunday matinee at 1 p.m. Tickets are $15 or pay what you can at the door.
Mysterious Entity presents
Romeo and Juliet: Superstar Ice Miners of Europa
When: Wednesday, November 5 to Saturday, November 8 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, November 9 at 1 p.m.
Where: The Theatre on King (159 King St, Suite 120, Peterborough)
How much: $15 or pay what you can
Adapted by Kate Story based on the play by William Shakespeare. Directed by Em Glasspool. Costumes by Kate
Story. Starring Sara McNeilly, Kenn Gibb, Dianne Latchford, Em Glasspool, Kate Story, Ryan Kerr, Taylor Beatty,
and Hilary Wear.
Tickets are available at the door.