Review: Feast on slap-up Shakespeare treat

"Doreen an' me, we bin to see a show.....a slap-up treat.....about a barmy goat called Romeo."

Yeah, the sentinmental bloke, C.J. Dennis would probably reckon that the show currently playin' at the Seafront Oval was indeed a slap-up treat, as we did when watched it on Thursday night.

Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet has been brought to us by the multi-talented students of the University of Southern Queensland, and what a wonderful production it is.

The tragic love story of the young lovers Juliet and Romeo whose families have been feuding is well known to most of us. Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes in Baz Luhrmann's movie popularised the play in 1996. The USQ production is no less dramatic than that movie, with a starkly simple yet flexible set, great lighting effects, sumptuous costumes, a musical soundtrack and terrific actors.

Some minor criticism can be made I am sure, in what is intended only in a constructive vein, and that is that some of the voice deliveries by some of the actors when amplified through the massive banks of speakers produced a sound level that exceeded the aural comfort level for this little black duck.

Although the acting standard throughout was of a high standard, particular mention must be made of Christopher Hunter and Kate Murphy in their lead roles. The balcony scene was a treat, and Kate brought tears to our eyes in the finale.

USQ brought us Macbeth last year, which was fabulous, and this year's offering is also a delight. Keep them comin', USQ.

Review by Gavin Patterson, Fraser Coast's The Chronicle, Saturday 15 March 2008.