Mirror Magazine

Mirror Magazine

R&J: beyond a play
Marisa de Silva talks to the cast of R&J to find out what they think of their roles
Ever wondered how much your best friend means to you? If he were killed, would you avenge his death regardless of the consequences? What about that annoying over protective brother who thinks it’s his sole duty in life to look out for you and make sure nothing bad happens to you? Then there are your parents and all the values, principles and beliefs they pass down to you – all relatively everyday people, who play a central role in your life. R&J brings out each of these figures, describing how much they add not just to the story on the whole but to the lives of the two young lovers.

Kevin Francke, plays the role of the faithful suitor Paris, portrayed as the ideal partner for Juliet. A descendent of nobility, a flawless character, of excellent social standing, Paris was the perfect son-in-law. However, there was just one little obstacle…winning Juliet’s heart. This proved to be no easy task, as he was unaware that her heart already belonged to another. Paris never knows that he lost out to someone else so he dies blissfully ignorant of his competition, says Kevin, “assuming Juliet killed herself out of grief for her cousin, Tybalt.”

“Anyone who has an elder brother can relate to the role of Tybalt,” says Ian Herft. He’s the typical over protective brother or cousin in this case, who wants what’s best for his young cousin. He feels it’s his responsibility to look out for Juliet and make sure she doesn’t get hurt, says Ian. This seems quite ironic because, in his mission not to let anything hurt her, he ends up doing just that, resulting in him being killed by Romeo, thereby having him exiled.

Ian describes how it’s very difficult to show Tybalts’ more human side, as most of his scenes revolve around various confrontations and conflict scenarios. Nevertheless, he manages to do so, through various little scenes incorporated into the play.

Playing the ‘wild card’ yet again is Krishan Jayaratnam, who plays the character of Romeo’s best friend, Mercutio. Although Mercutio is portrayed as a crazy, shallow person, he has a serious side to him as well, says Krishan. For instance, he was a very loyal friend and would always stand up for what he believed in. Unfortunately though, these very traits result in his death, as he decides to redeem Romeo’s honour by fighting Tybalt. The entire tragedy is ignited by Mercutio’s death, because it triggers off Romeo’s guilt, which makes him even out the score by killing Tybalt, which leads to his expulsion etc.

The depiction of the same role by different actors on different days too is a highlight, because each actor has a different style and understanding of his/her character, he says, giving fresh perspectives to the same role. The third of the ‘Three Musketeers’ Benvolio, played by Chamat Arambewela, is the sane one out of the three, says Chamat. It’s not that he wasn’t fun loving and carefree like his two ‘best buddies’, it’s just that he was more responsible. It is as if Romeo had a good and bad angel on each shoulder, Benvolio and Mercutio respectively.

The only thing that seemed uncharacteristic of him was convincing Romeo to go for the ball. However after much character analysis, they had realised that he may have done it as an attempt to make Romeo get over a love interest he was hopelessly pining over. Benvolio’s character develops progressively from a comic, light-hearted character to a more serious one and finally to one of anger and hatred, brought on by Mercutio’s death, says Chamat.

Lord Capulet (Prasad Pereira), with all his pomp and pageantry is up next. Capulet, says Prasad, uses his daughter as a tool to cement his connections with other nobility. His pride reigns supreme, and his image must remain unscathed, nothing much else matters to him, adds Prasad. He also plays a lead role in precipitating the entire tragedy by threatening Juliet. However, at her death, he’s overwhelmed by grief and remorse, shattering the many superficial walls he built around himself.

Lady Capulet (Amali Fernando) married very young when she was in her early teens, to a man who was in his late forties. In compliance with the general trend of the nobility at that time, she had a nurse tend to her daughter’s needs, depriving herself of a proper mother-daughter relationship with her offspring. She maintained her distance and remained detached most of the time, says Amali. She also didn’t have much of a relationship with her spouse, due to the age gap and lack of intimacy shared, adds Amali. However, in the public eye they were always upheld as a perfect noble couple. Probably the only time the couple shared a real connection was at the death of their daughter.

R&J is thus not just a tragic tale of young love, but of people. Average people that make the legend all that it is… Jointly presented by Yes FM and Mobitel (Main Sponsor), with Golden Key as Co-Sponsors, HP&S Advertising (Pvt) Ltd. coming in as the official advertising agency, ‘R&J’ opens in October at the Lionel Wendt. The costumes are by Sonali White. The official print media sponsors are The Daily Mirror and The Sunday Times.

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