‘Roméo et Juliette’ popular in China despite language barrier

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"Love is what is most beautiful, love is to climb so high…”

As Romeo and Juliet kiss during their wedding ceremony amid the song “Aimer (Love)”, a round of applause and cheers can be heard from the theater's audience in Shenzhen, the first stop of the French musical "Roméo et Juliette’s" 2018 China tour.

Based on William Shakespeare's tragedy, the musical premiered in Paris in 2001. With songs and lyrics composed by Gérard Presgurvic, the show has toured the world and been staged by various international production houses since its debut.

New couple with new chemistry

Romeo, Damien Sargue (L) and Juliet, Clémence Illiaquer (R). /CGTN Photo

One of the things that make this year’s tour special is the return of the original Romeo, Damien Sargue.

Sargue, who played Romeo at the first staging of the musical in Paris in 2001, returned to this role after eight years away. With more experience in his life, the actor sees the songs and the story in a different way, and has reshaped his portrayal of Romeo.

“That’s the difference between my two Romeos,” said the 36-year-old actor. “I feel the Romeo I played back then was a little more vulnerable, now I want to play a Romeo who is more confident.”

The actress who brings Juliet to life is 21-year-old Clémence Illiaquer, who was also with the tour in China in 2016.

Romeo and Juliet kiss during the song “Aimer”. /JUCOO Photo

"I feel more free and more relaxed playing Juliet this year. Even just vocally, I’ve matured," said Illiaquer.

The young actress relates to the character of Juliet.

"We are both young, and we believe in love," she said. "And I believe in love at first sight."

Kissing scenes are common in this romantic story. However, the fairly big height difference between the couple creates some funny moments.

"I need to lower myself a little for the famous scene with the kiss," said Sargue, referring to the scene where he and Illiaquer have to stay kissing for eight minutes without letting each other go.

"I, on the other hand, always feel like a giraffe, having to stretch my neck," Illiaquer laughed.

The crazy and bizarre Mercutio

John Eyzen plays Mercutio. /CGTN Photo

Besides Romeo and Juliet, another character has also proven popular with audiences – Mercutio, played by John Eyzen. Mercutio is Romeo's friend and is later killed by Juliet's cousin Tybalt.

Eyzen, who has been playing the role for 11 years, has performed in the Chinese mainland twice, in 2012 and in 2016.

The 31-year-old actor sees Mercutio as one-third of his life.

"I love my character. I think it will be one of the biggest characters of my life," said Eyzen. "Mercutio will always be a part of me."

Although the crazy and bizarre personality of Mercutio has accumulated an enormous fan base for Eyzen, he claimed he's not Mercutio in real life.

John Eyzen dresses in purple as Mercutio (L). /JUCOO Photo

"He (Mercutio) is really sarcastic, and I love sarcasm and humor... but not in his crazy and his angry."

Eyzen’s Mercutio has always appeared with long curly hair. The short hair he wears now has triggered curiosity among fans.

"It was for different project, I had to cut it," explained Eyzen, who has had long hair for 15 years. "The problem is when you do auditions… they see me in long hair, they can't imagine me with short hair."

"Now that my hair is shorter, I have more works actually," he said.

Modern elements make the French musical popular

Although it is a French musical based in an Italian setting, the passion from Chinese fans towards "Roméo et Juliette" has surprised the cast.

“We never had such an audience like this,” said Eyzen, referring to the premiere on March 29 in Shenzhen. “(Audience) clapping between the songs... we had it a little bit before in China and in different countries, but not like this, it was crazy."

"I was drawn to the songs first, and watched the musical afterward," Li Jiamei, a 25-year-old Shenzhen audience told CGTN.

Cards made by fan as presents for the actors. /CGTN Photo

"I don’t understand the language, but I know the storyline and can feel the passion of the actors while they are singing," said an audience in her early 20s, who waited at the stage door after the show to greet actors and give handmade presents.

Waiting at the stage door after shows has become a "tradition" for fans.

"In every country, I've been singing, some fans, when they really love the artists and the shows, they wait outside (the stage door), and we love it," Eyzen told CGTN.

"The songs and choreography of French musicals are modern, make them different from some old-school musicals in Broadway and London West End," Zhao Xi, column writer of Dance Theatre magazine, told CGTN.

"The modern elements make it easy for French musicals to attract young audience," she added.

Connections with Chinese fans

Both Romeo and Juliet have opened accounts on Weibo, one of China’s biggest social media platforms, to interact with fans.

Mercutio, on the other hand, has no plan to join the Weibo community. "I’m absolutely not a social media guy," said Eyzen. "I like real connection in real life."

Actors have opened accounts on Weibo. /Screenshot via Weibo

Nicknames are created by fans to address the actors.

Romeo is nicknamed "Da Mi (大米)" or rice, because of the pronunciation of his first name – Damien – which sounds similar to the word "rice" in Chinese.

Meanwhile, Juliet is called "Ke Mei (克妹)" or sister Ke, due to her first name – Clémence – and her young age.

"Mao Qiu (毛球)" or fuzzy ball, is used to address Mercutio, because of the Chinese translation of the character’s name "Mao Qiu Xi Ao (茂丘西奥)" and the fuzzy long hair he used to have.

Making stickers of the "Roméo et Juliette" cast is another way that fans have expressed their love for the show.

Fan-made stickers “I don’t understand” (L) and “I’m not happy” (R). /Photo via Weibo

All three actors were surprised and amused by the stickers when shown them during the interview.

"It is genius! I am fan of them now!" Illiaquer laughed, referring to stickers of her dubbed "I don’t understand" and "I'm not happy".

After Shenzhen, the French musical "Roméo et Juliette" will visit Shanghai and Hangzhou, before arriving at its final destination in Tianjin in May.

(Video by Guo Meiping)

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