R and J

‘R and J’, or the possible secret lives of the actors behind ‘Romeo and Juliet’, when portrayed in person by William Shakespeare and the Third Earl of Southampton. The very well researched script was written by Perth’s own John Aitken. This raw and exciting new play is presented by The Prickly Pear Ensemble and funded by DCA. It is showing at the Blue Room Studio, Northbridge until Saturday 23^rd October. All shows at 8.30 pm.

     It is 1601 and nearing the end of the reign of Queen Elizabeth l. A performance of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ has just ended; the players have taken their encore bow and returned to their dressing room. Blonde Adonis, third Earl of Southampton (Lauchlan Bain), is attired in a cream dress. It is a time, when on the orders of the Lord Chamberlain, all theatrical parts had to be played by males. The Earl has been playing the part of Juliet, to Will Shakespeare’s (Ethan Tomas) Romeo. 

     The promiscuous twenty year-old Earl, generally known as Henry Wriothesley (pronounced ‘Risly’), is totally besotted with Will and is feeling excited after the love scenes of the play.

      To escape the noise of his nagging wife, children and visiting actors at his Stratford upon Avon home, Shakespeare has moved to London, into a damp cold flat in Shoreditch in order to write in peace.

       Almost penniless and needing to raise 1,000 pounds in order to buy shares in a new theatre being built (the Globe), Will has taken on Henry as a Patron, however this financial security comes with a great deal of problems. The wanton Henry is desperate for Will’s love and body, just as he has in the past with Christopher ‘Kit’ Marlowe. To complicate things, Henry has been offered 5,000 pounds to hastily marry another Lord’s daughter. If he shows too much affection for Will, the Church will have him hung for being homosexual. Henry also has anti-monarchist feelings and is certainly a reckless, dangerous man with whom to be connected – the Queen’s best friend, Earl of Essex (also known as Robert Devereux), already has him as a marked man.

       So Will Shakespeare is faced with requiring cash to live, money for the theatre, living in a damp cell-like flat, surrounded by the plague, no real desire to return home and worst of all a desire to prove himself as a writer. With Henry mocking him relentlessly and calling him a second rate Bacon and Marlowe, Shakespeare is in a quandary, should he move into the security of the Earl’s Titchfield stately home? or ditch him and continue his profession?

There are no punches pulled in this quality, fascinating and original look at the Elizabethan period. Although the rich poetic dialogue was of the era, the dress and props were contemporary. Naturally the production, designed by John Senczuk, was in the round, with Hockney-esque paintings of Henry on the walls. The lighting was very well designed by Trent Suidgeest, being mainly of warm reds and ambers, with extra care having to be taken not to blind the surrounding audience. 

Directed by John Senczuk, the 100-minutes of action is intriguing and lively. There are two acts to this play, however last night the two actors wisely kept the pace flowing by performing the whole play in one run. Whilst the dialogue and action were engrossing, the acting quite brilliant, by the end of the show the temperature and lack of oxygen in the theatre sadly became a distraction.

Ethan Tomas was wonderfully exhilarating as the serious, studious author, whereas newcomer Lauchlan Bain was breathtaking as the flippant effeminate Earl. Two very different characters skilfully apposed.

The young composer, Daniel Masmanian, who was especially commissioned to write the score, has really proved himself. The musical pieces and the instruments used – or synthesised? – are ingeniously typical of the Elizabethan period, with a mixture of lute, virginal, viol and drum, giving an authentic minstrel-like atmosphere.

John Aitken may be a prolific writer, but there is always depth and quality in every word that he writes. Unlike many writers, John is cherished for his unselfish nature, being happy to advise and guide new playwrights, so helping them to discover their inner talents.

Another masterpiece in writing and acting. May not be to everyone’s taste, but if you enjoy Shakespeare and a good Elizabethan tale, then you will be totally drawn into this intriguing saga.