What I liked
Nicole Knudsen and James Ferrero (co-writers, co-producers, and Benvolio and Horatio respectively) absolutely nail the pain, the hilarity, and the guilt of what it must be like for these two characters to survive their families’ tragedies.
Not falling prey to constraints like “time,” their modern setting drives home even more palpably the real-time action of these two classic plays. The speed with which both Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet move from start to finish is made painfully apparent both in the writing, and the performances.
Knudsen’s Benvolio – “Benny” – takes us on a journey from hilariously bashful to utterly destroyed in the aftermath. Ferrero’s Horatio – “Ray” – captures his position as tangential to the seat of power, but without any real control of his own, and the ways in which that weighs on him until he breaks.
Directors Cameron Rose and Elizabeth Birmingham choreographed an efficient, effective, and evocative use of the limited space and technical constraints of Fringe to bring this story to life. The pure, platonic relationship between Ray and Benny evolves and grows beautifully as their shared and collective traumas bring them closer and closer together.
What I didn't like
As is usually the case, the most noticeable areas that could use a zhuzh are those inherent to the Fringe format. That said, would a more naturalistic rather than representational set add some umph? Sure. But at the same time, this team makes a meal out of what resources they’re able to work with and at no point did I find any element wanting.
There’s only one more performance on Sunday the 30th, so get your tickets now!
My overall impression
What if Benvolio (Romeo and Juliet) and Horatio (Hamlet) were friends when all their respective sh*t went down? We Need Better Friends brilliantly shows us exactly what.
