Romeo & Juliet - Kirkstall Abbey

When it comes to modern versions of Shakespeare's tragic love story, Australian director Baz Luhrman threw out the rulebook with his astonishing movie version.

The rj williamson company doesn't have Leo Di Caprio, and it follows a more traditional path, but it does enlist the services of a couple of rising stars from Oz.

Rebecca Ritters, better known as Hannah Martin in the soap Neighbours, and Tam Matheson take on the lead roles of the love-struck couple, fighting against their warring families the Montagues and Capulets.

Matheson and Ritters are fine as the star-crossed lovers and capture the moment when they first gaze on each other, but overall they lack that real spark that would have elevated the performance even higher.

The balcony scene doesn't really get the heart pounding, either, but it has become so clichd that it would be very difficult to do well.

There is excellent support from director Robert Williamson, who gives a brilliant comic turn as the swashbuckling and hard-drinking Mercutio, Gordon Kemp as the quick-tempered Tybalt and Sarah-Jayne Steed as Lady Capulet.

Also worthy of mention are Patricia Leventon as Nurse and Christopher Mellows as Friar Laurence who manage to convey the compassion of their characters with great realism.

By the company's high standards this is still a very enjoyable production and the abbey setting is perfect, but it doesn't really involve on an emotional level.

Romeo & Juliet runs at Kirkstall Abbey until August 18. Details (0113 2243801).

RICHARD BRUGGER