Romeo and Juliet, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, Boston Common, through August 6. Free.
Allegra Libonati is in a theatrical romance with ''Romeo and Juliet." In playbill notes, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company's first guest director calls this great love tragedy "my favorite written work of art." It should come as no surprise, then, that this "avid fan" of CSC's summer fare is bringing impassioned care to the troupe's 22nd anniversary production of what is arguably the Bard's most poetic examination of love. Theater lovers of all ages will find that Libonati, whose bio boasts 12 seasons helming the outdoor Summer Theatre of New Canaan, has made the latest Hub examination both high spirited and haunting- particularly thanks to Gracyn Mix's stunning debut as Juliet.
Love and conflict vie continually for center stage in Shakespeare's Verona, a factor that Libonati gives rich blocking at the Boston Common. Quick transitions not only make for sharp pacing but also make the contrasts between happy moments and ominous situations affecting the Montagues and Capulets all the more vivid. For example, Mercutio and his comrades are in place on stage for the upcoming fight with Tybalt and his men as pre-marital guidance and prayers with Friar Laurence at the church conclude elsewhere. Libonati also inserts a quick and arresting summary right after intermission of key first act moments leading up to the announcement by Escalus, Prince of Verona, that Romeo is banished for killing Tybalt.
Stylish dance and sharp movement complement Libonati's buoyant direction. Peter DiMuro's stylish choreography has Romeo, cousin Benvolio and especially flamboyant Mercutio cavorting and frolicking with élan at the pivotal Capulet party where love at first sight occurs. Angie Jepson's fight choreography is properly tight and fierce-notably for the Mercutio-Tybalt face-off, though some theatergoers may feel that the fencing between Romeo and Paris could go on a bit longer.
As remarkable as these staging elements is a strong cast. John Zdrojeski has the right agility, youthfulness and passion as Romeo. He eventually reaches the kind of combination of intrepid spirit and unaffected vulnerability that Graycin Mix nails from the start. Mix's vulnerability is heart-wrenching as Fred Sullivan, Jr's tough love Capulet verbally abuses Juliet. Her post-love making balcony exchange with hunky Zdrojeski and their "sweet sorrow'' parting are fully involving. Mix is a revelation that CSC should factor into future efforts.
With African -American actors playing such striking roles as Nurse, Benvolio, Escalus, Tybalt and Friar Laurence, the CSC production makes the play's universal messages about the power of unconditional love and the danger of irrational hate all the more forceful. Ramona Lisa Alexander captures all of Nurse's rich complexity-loyal to her employer Capulet but fully sympathetic and comforting to Juliet about her abiding love for Romeo despite formidable challenges. Brandon G. Green fires up Benvolio as Romeo's kin and Mercutio's friend. Kaci Hamilton has terrific authority as Escalus. Her rage during the Prince's tirade regarding the deaths of kinsman Mercutio and Capulet cousin Tybalt as well as the banishment of Romeo is breathtakingly palpable. Kai Tshikosi is properly volatile as Tybalt. Equiano Mosieri is a standout as Friar Laurance, vigorous and very attentive to both Romeo and Juliet. Another standout is Mario Marcel, electrifying and charismatic as bigger-than-life Mercutio. Audiences know his fate full well, but Marcel makes this insightful if often clownish friend so appealing that they will wish that they could enter Julia Noulin-Merat's impressive Verona set to protect him.
CSC has often opted to set its Boston Common productions in more recent or contemporary times. By contrast, Libonati's take, as unassuming as its title lovers, reaches the stars with its soaring soulfulness