The familiar meets the intriguingly unfamiliar this weekend with the ballet “Romeo and Juliet” visiting the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in a four-performance run through Sunday.
Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, led by longtime in-house choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot, makes its fourth appearance in Costa Mesa of the last decade.
Juliette (Anna Blackwell) strangles herself after discovering Roméo (Jérôme Tisserand) is dead during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Romero (Jérôme Tisserand) and Juliette (Anna Blackwell) during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Juliette (Anna Blackwell) keeps an eye on Romero (Jérôme Tisserand) during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Capulets dance over Montaigus during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Romero (Jérôme Tisserand) and Juliette (Anna Blackwell) during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Romero (Jérôme Tisserand) and Juliette (Anna Blackwell) during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Romero (Jérôme Tisserand) and Juliette (Anna Blackwell) during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Romero (Jérôme Tisserand) and Juliette (Anna Blackwell) during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Romero (Jérôme Tisserand) and Juliette (Anna Blackwell) during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Roméo (Jérôme Tisserand), center, with Benvolio (Adam Reist), left, and Mercutio (Daniele Delvecchio) during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Romero (Jérôme Tisserand) and Juliette (Anna Blackwell) during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Romero (Jérôme Tisserand) and Juliette (Anna Blackwell) during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
La Nourrice (Hannah Wilcox), left, and Mercutio (Daniele Delvecchio) during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Juliette (Anna Blackwell) during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Romeo (Jérôme Tisserand), center, and Tybalt (Cristian Assis) fight as Lady Capulet (Laura Tisserand), right, watches, with Benvolio (Adam Reist), far left and Mercutio (Daniele Delvecchio) during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Romero (Jérôme Tisserand) and Juliette (Anna Blackwell) during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Lady Capulet (Laura Tisserand) and Tybalt (Cristian Assis) during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Juliette (Anna Blackwell) proves she’s a mature woman to La Nourrice (Hannah Wilcox) during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Capulets dance during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Rosaline (Chelsea Adomaitis) and Roméo (Jérôme Tisserand) during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Members of the Montaigu family (Benjamin Stone, Left, Center, Roger Neves And Alexandre Joaquim) during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Rosaline (Chelsea Adomaitis) and Roméo (Jérôme Tisserand) during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Roméo (Jérôme Tisserand) reacts as he discovers what he thinks is a dead Juliette (Anna Blackwell) during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mercutio (Daniele Delvecchio), right, with two Montaigus, (Lou Beyne, Left, And Alessandra Tognoloni) during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Frère Laurent (Matèj Urban) puts a spell on Juliette (Anna Blackwell) during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Romero (Jérôme Tisserand) and Juliette (Anna Blackwell) during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Roméo (Jérôme Tisserand), thinking Juliette (Anna Blackwell) is dead, kisses her, but ends up poisoning himself during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Juliette (Anna Blackwell) reacts as she discovers Roméo (Jérôme Tisserand) is dead while Frère Laurent (Matèj Urban) is distraught, far right, during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Lady Capulet (Laura Tisserand) discovers what she thinks is a dead Juliette (Anna Blackwell) during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Tybalt (Cristian Assis), center, during dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Frère Laurent (Matèj Urban) dances over two acolytes during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
An acylot drags Tybalt (Cristian Assis) after he was killed by Romeo during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Romero (Jérôme Tisserand) and Juliette (Anna Blackwell) during a dress rehearsal for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo production of Romeo and Juliet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The show is considered by many to be the iconic ballet of renowned choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The troupe’s repeated visits showcase Maillot’s wedding of psychologically driven storytelling to swift, sleek movement that comfortably draws from classical ballet and modern dance.
Highly productive – Maillot has choreographed more than 30 ballets across the past quarter century-plus – his canon includes revamped choreographic looks at familiar ballets. Seen here in Orange County have been his personalized treatments of “Cinderella” and “Lac,” a re-telling of “Swan Lake.”
This time it’s “Romeo and Juliet.”
Due to the popularity of Sergei Prokofiev’s stirring, atmospheric score, numerous choreographers over the decades have been drawn to mounting Shakespeare’s tale of star-crossed lovers.
Notably among are the earliest ballet treatment from choreographer John Cranko – known to Southern California through the accessible, upbeat Joffrey Ballet production – and the most popular, emotionally compelling staging from Kenneth MacMillan, which is still performed by American Ballet Theatre and The Royal Ballet. Both of have been seen on the Segerstrom Hall stage multiple times.
Maillot’s re-telling, created in 1996, is a departure from these other works.
For one thing, his work is told from an unlikely perspective, with the usually supplemental character of Friar Laurence acting as the tour guide. Gone, also, are many secondary characters familiar from the play and other ballet versions. Swordplay, bloodletting and poison-drinking are in scant display, versus mimed acting and angular, jagged dancing.
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Mountings of this production also include another novelty: marionettes cavorting in a humorous puppetry sequence to Prokofiev’s mandolin interlude.
As is standard with other Monte-Carlo appearances here, the score is not performed live, but to a specific recording that Maillot pointedly fashions his dancers’ moves to.
“Romeo et Juliet,” Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo
When: Through Sunday, April 17: 7:30 p.m., Friday; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 1 p.m. Sunday
Where: Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
Tickets: From $29
COVID-19 protocols: Ticket holders ages 15 and older must provide proof of full vaccination or present a negative COVID-19 test (PCR taken within 48 hours or antigen taken within 24 hours). Ticket holders over the age of 18 must also bring photo ID. Masks are not required, but strongly recommended for all.
