[IELTS Listening] – Romeo & Juliet Play Review

ED:               Did you make notes while you were watching the performances of Romeo and Juliet, Gemma?

GEMMA:     Yes, I did. I found it quite hard though. I kept getting too involved in the play.

ED:               Me too. I ended up not taking notes. I wrote down my impressions when I got home. Do you mind if I check a few things with you? In case I’ve missed anything. And I’ve also got some questions about our assignment.

GEMMA:     No, it’s good to talk things through. I may have missed things too.

ED:               OK great. So first of all, I’m not sure how much information we should include in our reviews.

GEMMA:     Right. Well, I don’t think we need to describe what happens. Especially as Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare’s most well-known plays.

ED:               Yeah, everyone knows the story. In an essay we’d focus on the poetry and Shakespeare’s use of imagery etc., but that isn’t really relevant in a review. We’re supposed to focus on how effective this particular production is.

GEMMA:     Mmm. We should say what made it a success or a failure.

ED:               And part of that means talking about the emotional impact the performance had on us (Q21/22). I think that’s important.

GEMMA:     Yes. And we should definitely mention how well the director handled important bits of the play – like when Romeo climbs onto Juliet’s balcony. (Q21/22)

ED:               And the fight between Mercutio and Tybalt.

GEMMA:     Yes. It would also be interesting to mention the theatre space and how the director used it but I don’t think we’ll have space in 800 words.

ED:               No. OK. That all sounds quite straightforward.

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ED:               So what about The Emporium Theatre’s production of the play?

GEMMA:     I thought some things worked really well but there were some problems too.

ED:               Yeah. What about the set, for example?

GEMMA:     I think it was visually really stunning. I’d say that was probably the most memorable thing about this production. (Q23)

ED:               You’re right. The set design was really amazing, but actually I have seen similar ideas used in other productions.

GEMMA:     What about the lighting? Some of the scenes were so dimly lit it was quite hard to see.

ED:               I didn’t dislike it. It helped to change the mood of the quieter scenes. (Q24)

GEMMA:     That’s a good point.

ED:               What did you think of the costumes?

GEMMA:     I was a bit surprised by the contemporary dress (Q25), I must say.

ED:               Yeah – I think it worked well, but I had assumed it would be more conventional.

GEMMA:     Me too. I liked the music at the beginning and I thought the musicians were brilliant, but I thought they were wasted because the music didn’t have much impact in Acts 2 and 3. (Q26)

ED:               Yes – that was a shame.

GEMMA:     One problem with this production was that the actors didn’t deliver the lines that well. They were speaking too fast. (Q27)

ED:               It was a problem I agree, but I thought it was because they weren’t speaking loudly enough – especially at key points in the play.

GEMMA:     I actually didn’t have a problem with that.

ED:               It’s been an interesting experience watching different versions of Romeo and Juliet, hasn’t it?

GEMMA:     Definitely. It’s made me realise how relevant the play still is.

ED:               Right. I mean a lot’s changed since Shakespeare’s time, but in many ways nothing’s changed. There are always disagreements and tension between teenagers and their parents. (Q28)

GEMMA:     Yes, that’s something all young people can relate to – more than the violence and the extreme emotions in the play.

ED:               How did you find watching it in translation?

GEMMA:     Really interesting. I expected to find it more challenging, but I could follow the story pretty well.

ED:               I stopped worrying about not being able to understand all the words and focused on the actors’ expressions. The ending was pretty powerful. (Q29)

GEMMA:     Yes. That somehow intensified the emotion for me.

ED:               Did you know Shakespeare’s been translated into more languages than any other writer?

GEMMA:     What’s the reason for his international appeal, do you think?

ED:               I was reading that it’s because his plays are about basic themes that people everywhere are familiar with.

GEMMA:     Yeah, and they can also be understood on different levels (Q30). The characters have such depth.

ED:               Right – which allows directors to experiment and find new angles.

GEMMA:     That’s really important because …