Mimi Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 3 minutes ago, Jan McNulty said: Because? The RB may have considered Mercutio appropriate for a principal at some point, but not in the several years I've been following them--unlike, say, American Ballet Theater, which almost always has a principal or two dancing Mercutio whenever it does the Macmillan R&J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthE Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 James Hay has just tweeted that he is debuting as Mercutio on Thursday. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard LH Posted March 25, 2019 Author Share Posted March 25, 2019 18 minutes ago, RuthE said: James Hay has just tweeted that he is debuting as Mercutio on Thursday. Brilliant ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 59 minutes ago, Jan McNulty said: Because? ................. Alexander Campbell has had a lot on his plate, maybe there comes a moment (and I speculate, of course - naughty me) when a dancer feels that he's danced a role often enough, and, generally speaking, Mercutio is being cast at First Soloist/Soloist level. I am amazed that James Hay has not danced the role before! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard LH Posted March 25, 2019 Author Share Posted March 25, 2019 So unless I am mistaken, on Thursday we have role debuts for Juliet (Takada) 💃, Romeo (Hirano) 🕺 and Mercutio (Hay)🤺! Slightly nervous for them, but they are all professionals and fantastic dancers and I'm looking forward very much to their performances. Best wishes to all! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 I too was surprised that Hay had never danced Mercutio before, but it's a role that will suit him very well, I'm sure. I'd been going to suggest that the Takada cast was a likely opportunity because of the relative heights of the dancers. It is of course a role which, at the RB at least, has a long history of being danced by Principals (some of whom, at least, doubled up as Romeos) - but then I've also seen Benvolio, Paris, and even the lead mandolin dancer danced by Principals before now, and I'm not talking about gala performances. If that's stopped, then it's a shame, even given the depth of talent in the company at present. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fonty Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 And especially as Campbell is so good in the role as well. I think he danced Romeo with BRB? Is there a particular reason why he is never cast in that role for the RB? Surely the current Juliets are not all tall, are they? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 I think we've already had that discussion somewhere, possibly in another thread. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 16 minutes ago, Fonty said: And especially as Campbell is so good in the role as well. I think he danced Romeo with BRB? Is there a particular reason why he is never cast in that role for the RB? Surely the current Juliets are not all tall, are they? He danced both Mercutio and Romeo at BRB, both to great acclaim. It's beyond me why he isn't being given Romeo in the current run but it's saved me a lot of money. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fonty Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 It's beyond me why he has never danced it with the RB (as far as I know.) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAX Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 I would not pay to see Hirano as Romeo 😕 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 45 minutes ago, MAX said: I would not pay to see Hirano as Romeo 😕 Why, out of interest? He was excellent in Winter’s Tale. I’d love to see Stix-Brunell as Juliet so will be very interested to see what people make of her partnership with Hirano. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawnstar Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 3 hours ago, alison said: I too was surprised that Hay had never danced Mercutio before, but it's a role that will suit him very well, I'm sure. I'd been going to suggest that the Takada cast was a likely opportunity because of the relative heights of the dancers. I wonder whether he might also do the likewise not very tall Hayward/Corrales performances then? Or is the piece usually cast so each Romeo & Juliet pairing have a different Mercutio? I'd like to see Hay, having thought while watching his Act 3 solo in Frankenstein on Saturday that he'd be good in the role. 17 minutes ago, Anna C said: Why, out of interest? He was excellent in Winter’s Tale. I’d love to see Stix-Brunell as Juliet so will be very interested to see what people make of her partnership with Hirano. I can't speak for MAX but I confess I've got my fingers crossed that none of the 3 Romeos I've booked for (Clarke, Muntagirov & Corrales) get injured & replaced by Hirano. I wasn't keen on his acting in Mayerling so don't wish to see him in another leading Macmillan role in a hurry. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 Funny isn't it how we all see dancers differently. Not necessarily RB but I've seen performances that I thought were outstanding and incredibly moving that friends thought at best were average. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAX Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 I saw him in Winter Dreams and.... that was a very poor performance, technically and artistically. Not what I expect from a Royal Ballet principal. We were very far from Mukhamedov. I enjoy very much coming to the ROH but the seats are very expensive which means I will simply choose another dancer next time I come to the UK. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAX Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 and yes ! you are right Janet ☺️ 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 28 minutes ago, MAX said: and yes ! you are right Janet ☺️ I really liked him in Winter Dreams... But I agree that if you can't, like me, travel to lots of performances you tend to choose the dancers you like. I suppose it's one of the reasons I prefer mixed bills because you can become acquainted with dancers you may not otherwise see. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penelopesimpson Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 Was Macrae not going to be Romeo to Takada’s Juliet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 He was. So Hirano ends up covering 2 casts (I get the feeling we've been here before, somehow) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 31 minutes ago, alison said: He was. So Hirano ends up covering 2 casts (I get the feeling we've been here before, somehow) And, already, both Ball and Clarke were cast with two Juliets each. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 Quite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliceinwoolfland Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 Disappointed that Campbell isn't being cast as Romeo, especially given the number of male principal roles he's been overlooked for in the last year or so. (Siegfried, Albrecht, Des Grieux..) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penelopesimpson Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 (edited) 8 hours ago, alison said: He was. So Hirano ends up covering 2 casts (I get the feeling we've been here before, somehow) Sorry, I need to catch up! So what has happened to Macrae? Oops, sorry. See he's injured. That's the curse of Cats Edited March 26, 2019 by penelopesimpson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangorballetboy Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 11 minutes ago, penelopesimpson said: Sorry, I need to catch up! So what has happened to Macrae? Oops, sorry. See he's injured. That's the curse of Cats As I understand it, the injury occurred after he had returned from filming Cats. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 Poor Steven McRae - what bad luck for him, I hope he recovers soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penelopesimpson Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 I was just being a bit Macavity! It is a blow for Steven. Wish him recovered soonest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangorballetboy Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 penelopesimpson's not there! 😎 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 As the run starts tonight, I thought we might just as well move this thread into the Performances forum rather than start a new one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard LH Posted March 26, 2019 Author Share Posted March 26, 2019 2 hours ago, aliceinwoolfland said: Disappointed that Campbell isn't being cast as Romeo, especially given the number of male principal roles he's been overlooked for in the last year or so. (Siegfried, Albrecht, Des Grieux..) Whilst he has danced Albrecht (with Hayward) and Des Grieux (with Takada) it was as a sub. rather than first choice. I would have thought he would also have made a great sub. for McRae as Romeo, particularly with Takada as Juliet as they had a great partnership in Manon as referred to above (as well as more recently in Don Q). But yes, we have been here before. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 Right, from a combination of sources (email from the ROH and various dancers’ public instagram accounts) I have deduced that in theory (and subject to change), tonight’s cast includes: Romeo - Matthew Ball Juliet - Lauren Cuthbertson Tybalt - Gary Avis Mercutio - Valentino Zucchetti Benvolio - James Hay Harlots - Itziar Mendizabal, Claire Calvert, Mayara Magri Can’t find any information on Lord and Lady Capulet, Nurse, Friar or Escalus. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riva Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 General rehearsal cast, if helpful: Juliet - Akane Takada Romeo - Ryoichi Hirano Mercutio - James Hay Tybalt - Bennet Gartside Benvolio - Tristan Dyer Paris - Tomas Mock Lord & Lady Capulet - Thomas Whitehead & Kristen McNally Escalus - Alastair Marriott Rosaline - Claire Calvert Nurse - Romany Padjak Friar Laurence - Philip Mosley Lord & Lady Montague - Philip Mosley & Lara Turk Harlots - Yuhui Choe, Olivia Cowley, Meaghan Grace Hinkis 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthE Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 I assume the harlots are listed in order of orange dress/red dress/yellow dress? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thalia Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 1 hour ago, Anna C said: Right, from a combination of sources (email from the ROH and various dancers’ public instagram accounts) I have deduced that in theory (and subject to change), tonight’s cast includes: Romeo - Matthew Ball Juliet - Lauren Cuthbertson Tybalt - Gary Avis Mercutio - Valentino Zucchetti Benvolio - James Hay Harlots - Itziar Mendizabal, Claire Calvert, Mayara Magri Can’t find any information on Lord and Lady Capulet, Nurse, Friar or Escalus. Very helpful, thanks! I don’t suppose anyone knows who is in the role of Paris this evening? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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