Romeo Initiative - Stole My Heart

In act two Karin says of Romeo and Juliet “You know how it will end and yet you still feel for them.” That is exactly how I felt watching The Romeo Initiative at the Cultch by Touchstone Theatre.

Even knowing what to expect, my heart still broke. I still had hope for the lovers right up to the end. I like to think that this was due to the persuasive writing and electric chemistry between Lindsey Angell’s Karin and Daniel Arnold’s Markus more than to my naïve nature, I’m not usually one for happy endings.

There’s a lot I could say about the details of this production, the set design was sparse, intelligent and versatile, creating a psychological context for the geography and time period. There were inconsistencies in the costuming and blocking that bothered me, but upon reflection I can see how they could be justified. The soundscape and music were beautiful, eerie and sometimes just weird. The acting was truthful and yet precisely stylized. The choreography, the nuances of the writing, the set changes, the lighting, the physical balance of the two acts were fantastic! . . None of these details can communicate how powerfully this piece affected me. The entire cast and crew have outdone themselves, I could single each one out but I would just be repeating the entire program.

I hope Touchstone Theatre continues to produce their work in smaller spaces. The intimate space allows the audience to soak up the story. The acting, although stylized, was totally believable on all counts and you could see the inner struggles the characters were experiencing. I don’t know if all that would translate to a vast auditorium.

The plot is specific to sociopolitical situation in Germany in the 70's, but the themes are timeless and universal. The director Katrina Dunn describes the play as “A chronicle of deception, told experientially”. Trina Davies, the playwright, says that “This play is for anyone who has ever fallen in love, and for anyone who has ever had their heart broken.” Descriptions more eloquent than mine. The only thing I would add is that The Romeo Intitiave will appeal to anyone who likes to think as well as feel at the theatre. It’s a stimulating piece.