Romeo and Juliet: A Love Song

Posted on Wednesday 3/12/2014 December, 2014 by Rialto Admin

The really quite extraordinary ‘Romeo and Juliet: A Love Song‘ is showing this week on Rialto, and if you haven’t heard of it yet, shame on you. It’s an independent, New Zealand musical version of Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy. Set in a trailer park. Yep, a trailer park, over one hot summer.

But back to the musical bit. This musical retooling of the tragic, star-crossed love story began life as a concept album by ex Screaming Meemees members Peter van der Fluit and Michael McNeill. Back in 2010 they sent 38 songs to director Tim van Dammen, who decided to retell Shakespeare's classic romance as "a sort of trash opera — like an updated John Waters type thing". Does it work? I reckon it does, and in its honour I thought I’d take a look at some of the more famous – and infamous - versions of the romantic tale.

In chronological order my faves are…

The really quite extraordinary Romeo and Juliet: A Love Song is showing this week on Rialto, and if you haven’t heard of it yet, shame on you. It’s an independent, New Zealand musical version of Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy. Set in a trailer park. Yep, a trailer park, over one hot summer.

But back to the musical bit. This musical retooling of the tragic, star-crossed love story began life as a concept album by ex Screaming Meemees members Peter van der Fluit and Michael McNeill. Back in 2010 they sent 38 songs to director Tim van Dammen, who decided to retell Shakespeare's classic romance as "a sort of trash opera — like an updated John Waters type thing". Does it work? I reckon it does, and in its honour I thought I’d take a look at some of the more famous – and infamous - versions of the romantic tale.

In chronological order my faves are…

Romeo and Juliet (1936)

Directed in 1936 by George Cukor, this was the very first film adaptation of Shakespeare’s famous play. Leslie Howard plays Romeo and actress Norma Shearer is Juliet, and some say it’s still the best version ever made. Other notable cast members include John Barrymore and Basil Rathbone, which is quite the line-up to be honest. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards, including a nod for Best Picture.

West Side Story (1961)

This film adaptation, based on the 1957 play of the same name, took home an incredible ten Oscars and remains one of the greatest love stories based on ‘Romeo and Juliet’ to date. The musical tale follows the feud between the Jets and the Sharks, equivalents to Shakespeare's Montagues and Capulets, focusing on the love between rival gang members Tony and Maria.

Romeo and Juliet (1966)

This was the first ballet adaption of Shakespeare’s story and the leads were danced by Margot Fonteyn as Juliet and Rudolf Nureyev as Romeo with a score by Prokofiev. Another serious credits list for sure, and the film was nominated for the Best English-Language Foreign Film Golden Globe in 1966.

Romeo and Juliet (1968)

The good ones were flying thick and fast at this point, and the 1968 British-Italian film adaptation of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ was directed and co-written by Franco Zeffirelli. The film starred Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey as the two young lovers and it took home Academy Awards for Best Cinematography and Best Costume Design and was nominated for Best Director and Best Picture.

Romeo + Juliet (1996)

Australian director Baz Luhrmann modernised Shakespeare’s most famous romance in a completely unique way for this outing, and the people lapped it up. Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes starred, and the movie retained the original Shakespearean dialogue from the play, but delivered by modern day characters. The movie was a hit with younger crowds and aided in bringing the age-old love story to a new generation of mall rats.

And now, in chronological order my least faves are…

Romeo Must Die (2000)

This one was an Andrzej Bartkowiak-directed martial arts film with a Romeo and Juliet-tastic love story starring Jet Li and the late Aaliyah. It was an interesting attempt at an update but failed dismally, apart from at the box office where it reportedly did very well.

Tromeo and Juliet (1996)

This version, which follows the lives of Tromeo Que and Juliet Capulet, is set in modern day Manhattan. Directed by Lloyd Kaufman and James Gunn, it stays pretty true to Shakespeare’s original play, with the addition of bucketloads of sex and violence. Though the film was generally well received by critics, I honestly don't think it was what Shakespeare had in mind.

Love Is All There Is (1996)

This comic take on the tragic story love story was released the same year as Baz Luhrman's ‘Romeo + Juliet’ and stars Angelina Jolie. Set in the Bronx, it follows Gina (Jolie) and Rosario (Nathaniel Marston), lovers from two Italian immigrant families who own opposing restaurants. Yep, and it’s as bad as it sounds.