DANCE REVIEW : ABT Cast Changes Have Mixed Results

As result of injury and substitution, the pair of star-cross’d lovers originally announced for the American Ballet Theatre performance of “Romeo and Juliet” on Thursday danced one day early at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Marianna Tcherkassky made a lyric, sweet Juliet who revealed unexpected dramatic depths and strengths in the later scenes. John Gardner, in his first casting as Romeo, drew only the outline of a dramatic character but proved a secure and considerate partner.

While never a dancer who relied upon technique to dazzle, Tcherkassky compensated with purity of line and sincerity of emotion. For her, love at first sight meant a deeply felt pain that later turned impetuous and wild.

Opposite that intensity, Gardner portrayed a genial, warm but self-effacing Romeo. He has yet to inhabit the role. He danced with careful, underpowered virtuosity.

Gil Boggs provided a wry, bemused Mercutio, pre-eminent among his friends in clear shape, vigor and non-stop momentum, and wrenching in his death scene.

But Ross Yearsley was only a sketchy, untidy Benvolio.

Ethan Brown made Tybalt the bully of Verona and, like a textbook bully, reacted with fear when he actually committed an act of violence--in this case, killing Mercutio by accident. The moment relieved an otherwise oppressive single-note interpretation but passed all too quickly.

Christine Dunham ventured an intriguing, atypical Rosaline, a woman who seemed not altogether indifferent toward Romeo. If only he hadn’t caught sight of that other woman at the ball?

In two cases, casting became almost prodigal: the authoritative Martine van Hamel as a determined and sympathetic Lady Capulet, and the virtuosic, airborne Johan Renvall ennobling the cameo solo duties in the Mandolin Dance.

Jack Everly again conducted.

The American Ballet Theatre continues through Sunday at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Tickets: $10 to $40. Information: (714) 556-2787.