Festival Theatre

Malvern

THE theatre was full of noisy teenagers just before the curtain went up, obviously there for study purposes, and I was concerned that I would not be able to concentrate on the play.

But I needn't have worried. The young people were just as appreciative as I was of the excellent English Touring Theatre production unfolding on the stage.

The set was bare but effective, with creative use of the few props there were and the actors wore modern dress.

The action was fast-paced and there were no pauses for elaborate staging.

And the acting was very good. Adam Cropasdell and Laura Rees were suitably full of youthful angst and Michael Cronin was a kindly Friar Laurence.

I liked Pepe Balderrama's cheeky Benvolio but the audience's clear favourite was O T Fagbenie's Mercutio, who was bawdy and great fun.

My only criticism is that I did feel that some of the scenes seemed a little too rushed, for example when the young lovers first meet and when Mercutio dies, but all in all, I was very impressed.

The production can be seen at Warwick Arts Centre from November 11-15.

Tickets from 024 7652 4524 or www.warwickartscentre.co.uk

LM