Last year the Oxford Shakespeare Company thoroughly impressed audiences in Wadham College gardens with their seaside version of Twelfth Night. This year they’re back in the same space with Romeo and Juliet, which is set somewhere closer to home; in Oxford itself. However, this time it’s the 1950s, and it’s Town versus Gown. In this version, the Capulets represent the university. They are headed by a brutish patriarch don (Martin Christopher), who is adamant on marrying his daughter Juliet (Sophie Franklin) off to services man Paris (Chris Jordan). But Juliet has other plans, having her eye on forbidden fruit, Romeo Montague (Alex Tomkins). He’s from the ‘other side’, he’s someone she should not fall in love with. However, as their eyes meet on a crowded dance floor, their tragedy is sealed. It’s a very different production from the one here last year. Although there are some equally spirited performances (Chris Jordan’s flamboyant Mercutio is a clear highlight) and creative staging decisions (many characters enter on bikes, and break out into (in)famous songs from the period), it is less engaging. Nothing really detracts enough from the play’s fundamental flaw; the central characters are just not interesting enough. In an outdoor summer setting, where brashness and colourfulness is better, it’s a problem. The unfortunately patchy musical numbers, and the occasionally quite frenetic direction, fail to prove distraction from the problem. Additionally, the setting gives little to proceedings. Being in the 1950s, it immediately sets itself up for comparison to West Side Story. Compared to that masterpiece, this, naturally, fails. Although there is some added resonance with the generational conflicts in the narrative (what with the coming of the teenager in 1950s society), it’s ultimately not something that is that important to the play. The Oxford element of it is gimmicky and underdeveloped. Although not without its interest, it’s a half-baked and disappointing production of one of Shakespeare’s more flawed bigger plays. Some spirited performances save certain scenes, however as the last 15 minutes enter their crushing inevitability, I was tempted to heckle “Just get on with it”. The production of Romeo and Juliet continues until August 22. Tickets: 01865 305305 (ticketsoxford.com).