SALT LAKE CITY — The Romance of Wind & Fire: Act III is a part of Brady Wilkinson’s epic Shakespearean tale, and mimics the Bard’s style in its current production at the Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival. Performed by Red Dragon/Black Wolf Productions, this show was a quality theatrical experience. The way it plays off the various Shakespeare shows using familiar names and parts of the story line is enjoyably nostalgic.
Show closes August 11, 2019.
Wilkinson, who also directed the production, opened the show with a brief introduction, and then I was thrown into the Renaissance, as the language seemed so different I didn’t expect to understand the entire show. However, Wilkinson’s expert directions for actors to emphasize what they were saying with vocal inflections and body language brought me into understanding pretty quickly, and I was able to follow the story line and enjoy what was happening.
Shelby Howard made a great clown as Mercutio and had a fun way of talking that make his character seem like the jokester before playing any tricks. Ryon Sharette as Romeo had an intense role and didn’t back down from the challenge. I could feel his spit rain down on me as he raged to the heavens. He and Mickeal Ryan, who played both Capulet and Tybalt, had an amazing sword fight that fit perfectly in the small space without losing any style.
I was also grateful for the props and set pieces used that added to the humor and style of the piece. The costumes seemed like a hodgepodge of pieces that included different styles from various times past, and I thought they looked as if the actors had put together what they had on hand. But this also fits the way plays were performed back in Shakespeare’s day, and I appreciated that.
Of course it’s always nice to see something familiar, and I was glad to enjoy a new Shakespeare show that got me back into that mood. Brush up on the language before you go and The Romance of Wind & Fire: Act III will be an even more fulfilling experience.
