Ballet West's Romeo and Juliet

When I subscribed to Ballet West's 2021-2022 season, Romeo and Juliet was the ballet I was most excited to see and it certainly lived up to my expectations last night!  It was absolutely beautiful!  This ballet tells the well-known story of star-crossed lovers by William Shakespeare with music composed by Sergei Prokofiev and choreography by Michael Smuin.  I loved everything about it starting with the music.  The themes played during the Capulet's ball are incredibly dramatic and the variation played when Romeo and Juliet first see each other is haunting.  The choreography is absolutely riveting, especially the ensemble scenes on the streets of Verona because they are so playful and fun to watch, the sword fights between the Montagues and Capulets because they are tense and passionate, and the pas de deux between Romeo and Juliet because, not only are they incredibly romantic, they are also quite acrobatic (she leaps into his arms multiple times and at one point he lifts her effortlessly above his head).  The performances are simply brilliant!  I was particularly struck by the death of Tybalt (Rex Tilton) because Lady Capulet (Emily Adams) is filled with palpable despair and climbs on to his funeral bier as it is taken away.  It is a powerful scene.  I also enjoyed Hadriel Diniz as Mercutio because he is so charismatic, especially when he kisses a girl as he is dying.  Chase O'Connell, as Romeo, and Beckanne Sisk, as Juliet, dance their roles beautifully and their chemistry is off the charts (they are a real-life couple).  The balcony scene is beautiful and I loved it when he would fall at her feet and clutch her skirt to his face.  So romantic!  The sets and costumes really add to the drama.  I let out an audible gasp when the Capulet's crypt was revealed because it is so dramatic with gray marble, an iron gate, and black robed dancers carrying lanterns all around Juliet's bier.  I also liked the chapel where Romeo and Juliet are married because it looks like a Renaissance painting.  The Capulets are all dressed in various shades of red while the Montagues are in blue and this is especially impressive when the two families collide with each other.  This is a stunning production that kept me captivated from beginning to end and I highly recommend it (go here for tickets).