Ben Power

This review refers to the RSC production 2009, seen at Northern Stage in Newcastle on October 31st, 2009.

We went to see the RSC's "A Tender Thing" at Northern Stage tonight. It's an adaptation of "Romeo and Juliet" for an older couple. It was very very good indeed, and it had me in tears from around Scene 2.

The cast has been cut down to just Romeo and Juliet, with each of them taking on lines from other characters occasionally. I haven't quite figured out yet how much is the original text (certainly a very substantial amount) and how much is new material.

"A Tender Thing" shifts the focus of the text from a play about young and reckless love to one about a relationship which has had years to mature, decades to build a life together, to gather memories, both happy and sad. It follows Romeo and Juliet through their old age, and Juliet's decline due to illness. Ultimately, Juliet decides to die in dignity, her own way, and we see the couple's struggle to cope with this decision.

For me, this is a much more moving scenario than the original. The characters have motivations I can empathise with, and there is a brutal, unstoppable logic to the plot development. It does also lack the stunning plot hammer of the original, which I'm sure the Orange people would be delighted to fix ("Not ded. CU l8er. Kthxbai. xx").

So yes, very very good, very much worth seeing, bring tissues.… (mere)