Romeo and Juliet
Cast
March 16—20, 2016
Conductor: David Briskin, Music Director and Principal Conductor
Choreography: Alexei Ratmansky
Music: Sergei Prokofiev
Set, Costume and Properties Design: Richard Hudson
Lighting Design: Jennifer Tipton
Répétiteurs: Magdalena Popa, Peter Ottmann, Mandy-Jayne Richardson and Lorna Geddes
World Premiere: The National Ballet of Canada, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts,
Toronto, November 16, 2011
Lead philanthropic support for Romeo and Juliet is provided by Sandra Pitblado & Jim Pitblado, C.M., with additional
generous support from Sandra Faire & Ivan Fecan, The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation, an anonymous
friend of the National Ballet and Walter Carsen, O.C.
Romeo and Juliet Ballet Talks Sponsor: Torys LLP
A Note on Romeo and Juliet
Artistic Director Karen Kain invited internationally acclaimed choreographer Alexei Ratmansky to create a new
production of Romeo and Juliet to celebrate The National Ballet of Canada’s 60th anniversary. The production was
unveiled on November 16, 2011 to ecstatic acclaim from audiences and critics alike. The company has toured the
production to the the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London, England and the Music Center
in Los Angeles.
One of the world’s most in-demand choreographers, Mr. Ratmansky is former Artistic Director of the Bolshoi Ballet
and current Artist-in-Residence at American Ballet Theatre. A leading creative force in contemporary ballet, Mr.
Ratmansky is known for his mastery of the classical idiom and for his ability to create story ballets that actually tell
stories, as well as a dazzlingly original approach to infusing the classical vocabulary with a modern spirit. Romeo and
Juliet is his first work for the National Ballet.
Shakespeare’s tender, tragic and enduring evocation of youthful passion undone by familial and societal discord has
exerted its incomparable emotional power over generations of audiences throughout the world and long inspired
choreographers to adapt it for the ballet medium. The intensity of its drama, enduring nature of its themes and vivid
and powerful characterization, provide a perfect vehicle for dance. The ballet has been an audience favourite ever
since it came to the National Ballet in 1964 and this production only enhances its position in the repertoire.
Running Time
Act I
Intermission
Act II
Intermission
Act III
Total (approx)
Juliet
Elena Lobsanova (Mar 16, 19 eve)
Heather Ogden (Mar 17)
Sonia Rodriguez (Mar 18)
Chelsy Meiss (Mar 19 mat)
Svetlana Lunkina* (Mar 20)
Romeo
Guillaume Côté (Mar 16, 19 eve)
Harrison James (Mar 17)
Naoya Ebe (Mar 18)
Brendan Saye (Mar 19 mat)
Evan McKie* (Mar 20)
Benvolio
Robert Stephen (Mar 16, 18, 19 eve)
Dylan Tedaldi (Mar 17, 19 mat, 20)
Lady Capulet
Stephanie Hutchison (Mar 16, 18, 19 eve)
Alejandra Perez-Gomez (Mar 17, 19 mat, 20)
Duke of Verona
Peter Ottmann (Mar 16, 18, 19)
Etienne Lavigne (Mar 17, 20)
Lord Montague
Brent Parolin
Mercutio
Piotr Stanczyk (Mar 16, 19 eve)
Skylar Campbell (Mar 17, 18)
Jack Bertinshaw (Mar 19 mat, 20)
Lady Montague
Alexandra MacDonald (Mar 16, 18, 19)
Chelsy Meiss (Mar 17, 20)
Tybalt
Jonathan Renna (Mar 16, 18, 19 eve)
McGee Maddox (Mar 17, 19 mat, 20)
Prostitutes
Rui Huang or Tanya Howard
Alejandra Perez-Gomez or Andreea Olteanu or
Stephanie Hutchison
Nurse
Lorna Geddes (Mar 16, 17, 19 eve)
Rebekah Rimsay (Mar 18, 19 mat, 20)
Friar Laurence
Tomas Schramek (Mar 16, 18, 19)
Peter Ottmann (Mar 17, 20)
Lord Capulet
Etienne Lavigne (Mar 16, 18, 19 eve)
Jonathan Renna (Mar 17, 19 mat, 20)
Juliet’s Friends
Jordana Daumec or Alexandra MacDonald or Rui Huang,
Tanya Howard or Kathryn Hosier or Selene GuerreroTrujillo, Tina Pereira or Hannah Fischer, Jenna Savella or
Miyoko Koyasu
Nobles and Citizens of Verona
Artists of the Ballet
*Debut
All casting subject to change.
Paris
Giorgio Galli
The National Ballet of Canada gratefully acknowledges the support of the following:
50m
20m
30m
20m
40m
2h 40m
We acknowledge the
financial support of the
Government of Canada
through the Department
of Canadian Heritage
via the Endowment
Incentives component
of the Canada Cultural
Investment Fund.
Bringing the arts to life
De l'art plein la vie
The Government of Ontario through the
Honourable Michael Coteau, Minister of
Tourism, Culture and Sport.
The Volunteer Committee,
The National Ballet
of Canada
The National Ballet of Canada operates under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association.
The National Ballet of Canada is a member of the Canadian Dance Assembly and Dance/USA.
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Synopsis
ACT I
Scene I
Morning in the Italian Renaissance city of Verona. Romeo, of the Montague family, greets the awakening day.
As the city comes to life, Romeo is joined by two friends, Mercutio and Benvolio, and the market square is
soon filled with people. The bitter enmity between the Montague and Capulet families emerges with the arrival
of Tybalt, a Capulet. Innocuous teasing escalates into swordplay as Tybalt fights with Benvolio and Mercutio.
Lord and Lady Capulet and Lord and Lady Montague enter. There is a brief lull in the fighting but soon Capulet
and Montague take up swords themselves. The Duke of Verona enters with his guards and intervenes,
chastening all of the combatants. The crowd parts, revealing the bodies of two dead young men.
Scene II
In her bedroom, Juliet, the daughter of Lord and Lady Capulet, plays affectionately with her Nurse as she
prepares for a ball. Her mother enters and tells her of Paris, an aristocratic suitor, whom they expect Juliet to
marry. Her father enters with Paris. Juliet is uncertain about the arrangement but she receives Paris graciously.
Scene III
A lavish ball at the Capulet home. Juliet is being displayed by her father for the assembled guests. Disguised
by masks, Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio slip unannounced into the ball. When Romeo sees Juliet, he is
immediately lovestruck. After Juliet dances with Paris, Romeo approaches her and professes his feelings.
Juliet immediately falls in love. Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin, suspects the interloper and unmasks him, revealing his
true identity. Enraged at Romeo’s effrontery, the hotheaded Tybalt demands revenge but he is stopped by Lord
Capulet. As the guests depart, Tybalt warns Juliet to stay away from Romeo.
Scene IV
Later that night, Romeo waits beneath Juliet’s balcony. When she appears at her window he makes his
presence known. Juliet comes down to him and, despite the danger of their situation which has now become
all too clear to both, they pledge their love to each other.
ACT III
Scene I
Juliet’s bedroom at dawn. Romeo, although banished, has stayed for his wedding night with Juliet. But now,
however sorrowfully, Romeo must depart, before they are discovered. After Romeo has gone, Juliet’s parents
enter with Paris and tell her that she is to marry him the following day. Juliet protests but her father brutally
silences her. In despair, Juliet rushes off to seek help from Friar Laurence.
Scene II
In his cell, Friar Laurence gives Juliet a vial containing a sleeping draught that will simulate death. He will send
word of the plan to Romeo, who will return to rescue her from the family vault when she has awakened.
Scene III
Juliet returns to her bedroom, where she pretends to bow to her parents’ will and marry Paris. Left alone,
however, she takes the sleeping draught and falls into a death-like slumber on her bed. In the morning, Lord
and Lady Capulet, Paris, the Nurse and several bridesmaids arrive to wake Juliet. The Nurse tries to rouse her
but when she doesn’t respond, everyone believes she is dead.
Scene IV
In the Capulet vault, Juliet lies still in her death-like sleep. Romeo enters, but not
having received Friar Laurence’s message, believes Juliet is really dead.
In despair, he drinks a lethal poison to join her in death. Before he dies,
though, he sees Juliet awaken and he realizes the cruel extent of what has
happened. When Romeo is dead, Juliet takes his knife and kills herself.
The Montagues and Lord Capulet, the Duke, Friar Laurence and others enter
to discover the terrible scene. Realizing the part their enmity has played in the
tragedy, the Capulets and Montague are reconciled in their sorrow.
ACT II
Scene I
In the market square, Romeo, delirious with love, is gently mocked by Mercutio and Benvolio. Juliet’s Nurse
arrives, bearing a letter to Romeo from Juliet, agreeing to secretly marry him. Romeo is overjoyed.
Scene II
As planned, Romeo and Juliet meet with Friar Laurence, who has offered to marry them despite the risk, in the
hope that it might bring peace to the warring families. He performs the ceremony and the two young lovers are
wed.
Scene III
In the market square, Mercutio and Benvolio encounter Tybalt. Mercutio taunts Tybalt. Romeo enters. Tybalt
challenges Romeo to a swordfight but Romeo refuses. Mercutio is less reluctant and, after an exchange of
insults, he and Tybalt cross swords and fight. Romeo seeks to intervene and stop them but inadvertently abets
Mercutio’s death. A griefstricken and ridden with guilt Romeo takes up a sword and fights Tybalt, killing him.
Lord and Lady Capulet enter, distraught to find Tybalt dead. The Duke arrives and as his guards bear away the
bodies of Tybalt and Mercutio, he angrily banishes Romeo, who flees.
Elena Lobsanova and Guillaume Côté in rehearsal. Photo by Daniel Neuhaus.
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