American Ballet Theater Portray "Romeo and Juliet" With Stellar Cast

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Parent Category: Film and the Arts

Category: Reviews

Published on Friday, 12 July 2024 09:09

Written by Jack Angstreich

Isabella Boylston in Romeo and Juliet. Photo: Rosalie O’Connor.

At Lincoln Center’s Metropolitan Opera House on the evening of Wednesday, July 10th, I had the inestimable privilege to attend a splendid performance of American Ballet Theater’s superb production of Romeo and Juliet, brilliantly choreographed by the now undervalued Sir Kenneth MacMillan and set to the glorious, immortal score by Serge Prokofiev, here expertly conducted by Charles Barker. The excellent scenery and costumes were designed by Nicholas Georgiadis and the effective lighting is by Thomas Skelton.

Veteran principal Herman Cornejo was extraordinary as Romeo and is one of the greatest stars in the company or indeed anywhere. He was marvelously partnered by Isabella Boyleston as Juliet (replacing Cassandra Trenary) and who has come into her own as an awesome ballerina. And, finally, newcomer Jake Roxander was simply sensational as Mercutio, astonishingly completing the primary cast. 

The secondary cast was also remarkable, including Roman Zhurbin as Tybalt, Andrii Ishchuk as Paris and, most memorably, Luis Ribagorda as Benvolio. The delightful Three Harlots were Isadora Loyola, Breanne Granlund, and Courtney Shealy. The most important of the other dramatic—as opposed to danced—roles were acted by Luciana Paris and Alexei Agoudine as Lady and Lord Capulet, Carlos Lopez as Escalus, Prince of Verona and as Friar Laurence, Betsy McBride as Rosaline, Nancy Raffa as the Nurse, and Lauren Post and Clinton Luckett as Lady and Lord Montague. The wonderful corps de ballet was in exceptional form.

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