ROMEO & JULIET

In 1996 Baz Lurmann's film ROMEO + JULIET reimagined Shakespeare's play in a contemporary setting. The appeal to teens was high, and this BBC Radio dramatization from 1999 shares many of the same elements. The soundtrack includes zooming Vespas and squealing tires—very much the sounds of a modern Verona. The cast is young and the cadences brisk, but attention is paid to the dialogue for comprehension by a modern audience. The audio format, especially through earphones, gives the story added intimacy, and here a fine freshness. The main actors—Dahl, Henshall, and York—stand out. A few of the minor cast members are less skilled, and somewhat interrupt the suspension of disbelief, but, overall, teens will be absorbed in the drama. R.F.W. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2011]