ROMEO ET JULIETTE Pacific Northwest Ballet February 5, 2022 Eclectic Arts Review

Romeo et Juliette
Pacific Northwest Ballet

McCaw Hall
Seattle, WA

Review: Saturday 2/5/22 7:30 pm Performance


Performances run through Sunday February 13th

(Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancers James Yoichi Moore and Noelani Pantastico in Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Roméo et Juliette, on stage February 4 – 13, and streaming digitally February 24 – 28, 2022. Photo © AngelaSterlingPhoto.com.)

I was looking forward to seeing “Romeo et Juliette” in person as my first PNB performance of 2022. I started reviewing the PNB in November of 2018. When the 2019/2020 season approached, I distinctly remember thinking to myself I’ll get to review a whole season for the very first time. Well, we all know what happened with that.


With the current season, I’ve reviewed one virtual performance, missed another all together, attended one in person, and now my second performance in person. As everyone adjusts to the ebb and flow of the pandemic, I am no different. But I’m glad to report that everything seems (emphasis on seems) to be in place for me to balance both my livestream commitments, my ever growing film commitments, and now my return to in person live events (concerts, ballet, opera, theatre, musicals, etc).


While I felt I was learning more and more before the pandemic, in some ways I feel like I’ve also regressed a bit after the “break”. My love of ballet has not waned one bit but my education has slipped a bit in my opinion.


I only mention this as I marveled at the performance Saturday evening, I felt like I had finally gained some of my educational experience back to where it was in early 2020.


The stage was simple which at first concerned me. I always enjoy seeing how the artists stage a production. However, as the performance kicked off, the staging became secondary to the ballet and the score.


My music background always knee jerks to the music at any production, whether I like it or not. Saturday night was no exception. The score from Sergei Prokofiev was magnificent. But even more stunning was the choreography of Jean-Christoph Maillot.


The choreography worked so well with the music which may seem cliche’ but it’s true. Some of the previous performances I’ve reviewed the choreography seemed to be an interpretation of the musical score. With “Romeo et Juliette”, they worked together seamlessly. The fact that I noticed this told me my artistic head was getting back in the game.


From a simple head nod, to an exaggerated arm flail, there was always a musical note that represented the emotion perfectly.


The cast Saturday evening was a real treat. Much has been said about Noelani Pantastico’s pending retirement. Having dedicated 25 years of her life to the high art of ballet, getting a chance to see her perform the lead role of Juliette was nothing but an artistic pleasure. Emotive, captivating, and spot on with her movements, the memory I have to remember her with is one of excellence and joy.


Her Romeo in James Moore was very much an equal in his performance and artistry. Powerful, believable, and quite the storyteller, James propelled the story along that held my interest throughout.


Leta Biasucci as the Nurse was her usual amazing self. Her dance is always so full of personality and fire, she never disappoints.


I was especially glad to see Ezra Thomson as Mercutio. He was so demonstrative with his dance that the audience couldn’t help but notice him. He received a noticeable well deserved loud applause at the curtain call.


The performance really captivated me throughout. I was honestly a little shocked at how much I was paying attention to the detail and the storytelling. This is a testament to the entire cast and crew for putting on such a memorable performance.


Recommended.


“Romeo et Juliette” runs through February 13th. Purchase tickets:  HERE!


Best,
Mark Sugiyama
Eclectic Arts

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