PNB gives contemporary 'Romeo et Juliette' its West Coast premiere

Peter Boal has conceived any number of bold ventures as artistic director of Pacific Northwest Ballet. This week brings another remarkable performance: a contemporary version of one of the most famous tales in Western literature that will be given its West Coast premiere Thursday night at McCaw Hall.

Titled "Romeo et Juliette," (its choreographer, Jean-Christophe Maillot, is French), the ballet eliminates all period sensibility from Shakespeare's story. Some characters have been dropped -- for instance, Lord Capulet -- while others have had their roles amplified. There are no swords, no vials of poison. Yet Romeo and Juliet, Tybalt and Mercutio, among others, remain. So does Prokofiev's score.

The ballet was premiered by Les Ballets de Monte Carlo in 1996, where Maillot is artistic director and resident choreographer, and given its American premiere by the company three years later at City Center in New York. PNB is the first American company to dance the work.

Boal saw the New York performance and was mesmerized by the "human quality to the dancing and acting. It was incredibly fresh and real. I admire the way he stripped away excess and enhanced the dramatic impact of the title characters."

Boal met Maillot in 1988 and he says, "I followed his career for the next 20 years.

"His choreography is brave and involves more movement for the upper body than most choreographers. Much of it is off-balance, a daring element in his 'Romeo et Juliette.' Arms and hands are given special emphasis. Our eyes are drawn to them, although in classical ballet, the stress is downward."

Boal also admired the look of the ballet: "Scenic design is sparse, with the lighting design providing the texture.

"What I like about this production," he continued, "is that all the actions and reactions are in the natural environment of real emotions. We try to go inside those emotions so they are not just something for the stage. They are what you find in daily life, not exaggerated."