PNB breathes new life into ‘Romeo et Juliette’

  • By Theresa Goffredo Herald Writer
  • Thursday, September 24, 2009 8:04pm
  • LifeGo-See-Do

“Romeo et Juliette”: Praised by the Seattle P-I as “seamlessly fusing the vocabularies of ballet and modern dance,” Pacific Northwest Ballet’s “Romeo et Juliette” kicks off a new season with this classic tragedy made more poignant by the passionate score of Prokofiev.

The ballet is known for its stylized movement and avant-garde design, which narrows the focus to the core of Shakespeare’s story: Friar Laurence has proposed that Juliette drink a potion that will give her the appearance of death, but merely puts her into a deep sleep.

But the illusion of death also fools Romeo, whom the friar didn’t have time to warn of the ruse. Mad with despair, Romeo kills himself, leaving a desperate Juliette to commit suicide in turn when she wakes to find him dead.

“Romeo et Juliette” opens at 7:30 tonight at McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St., Seattle. Performances are at various times through Oct. 4. Tickets start at $24. Call 206-441-2424 or go to www.pnb.org.

“The 39 Steps”: The New York Post called this show one of the most entertaining on Broadway.

Now the Seattle Repertory Theatre brings this mix that’s part Hitchcock masterpiece and part juicy spy novel, adding in a dash of Monty Python for a hilarious result.

The story is based on a beautiful spy who leaks a deadly secret to a man she’s just met. With that, the man finds himself embroiled in a high-speed chase across England and Scotland, dodging police, charming ladies and uncovering clues at every turn.

It’s a fast-paced ride and you are challenged to keep everyone straight as a cast of four works overtime portraying a combined 150 characters.

“The 39 Steps” opens at 7:30 tonight at Seattle Rep, 155 Mercer St., Seattle. The show runs at various times through Oct. 24. Tickets are priced from $15 to $47. Call 206-443-2222 or 877-900-9285 or go to www.seattlerep.org. Recommended for ages 8 and above.

“Tryst”: Seattle Public Theatre brings out this psychological thriller about a handsome con man, George Love, who woos love-starved women and then …well, we can’t tell you that.

The show is set in Edwardian England and the dishonorable Mr. Love continues in this fashion until he sets his sights on plain Adelaide Pinchon, a lonely spinster desperately dreaming of a new life.

Nothing is as it seems in this drama, which is making its Northwest premiere.

“Tryst” opens with a preview at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Seattle Public Theatre, The Bathhouse, 7312 W. Greenlake Drive N., Seattle. Shows are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 25. Tickets are $18 to $27. Call 206-524-1300 or go to www.seattlepublictheater.org.

“Two Wheels North” is a collaboration between 4Culture and Book-It Repertory Theatre to bring the true story of how two young men rode their bicycles from Santa Rosa, Calif., to the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in 1909.

The premier performance is free at 7 tonight at the Nordic Heritage Museum, 3014 NW 67th St., Seattle. The show will be followed by a reception and a Q &A with the performers. For information, contact sarahl@nordicmuseum.org or call 206-789-5707, ext. 32.

Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com

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