Romeo and Juliet - Altrincham Garrick

DYNAMIC young director Joseph Meighan returns tothe Trafford stage with a Romeo and Juliet for the Internet generation.

But despair not - oldies like me certainly didn't feel excluded from a production with a soundtrack of pop songs.

If I have a criticism I think the opening fight scene was a little over done, descending into comedy by the end. This is, after all, a play about two rival. feuding families who hate the bones of each other.

JM is a very promising talent and the fact that Romeo and Juliet are close to the age they're meant to be gives the classic teen love story added authenticity.  The two leads struggle to keep a lid on their emotions when Cupid's arrow strikes.

Haroun Al Jeddal's Romeo is very much "one of the boys" and his performance is sure to strike a chord with the teenagers in the theatre - there were nearly 100 in the auditorium on Monday night - and those of us who can just about remember what it felt like to be young. With Rebecca Myers (Juliet) there are some memorable scenes to enjoy and the duo perfectly capture the awkwardness and emotional highs of young love.

After seeing this production I really hope we see more of Geoff Holman on the Garrick stage for, as Juliet's tyrant of a father Lord Capulet, he is outstanding. The scene in which he rips into his daughter is quite frightening, as she dares to go against his marital decree. Don't be a stranger Geoff - you have a very strong stage presence.

Any production that features Barry Purves as its designer is always something to write home about and he delivers yet again with a set that's a positive visual treat. What the purists will make of this I don't know and don't really care as live theatre is forever evolving.

It's also a welcome return to Mark Butt whose Friar Laurence seems to have converted to Buddhism. Looking like he's dropped off a 60s album cover, Mark gives a very credible performance as a character full of eloquent authority/

* Until September 24. The box office is on 0161 928 1677. Star rating - ***