Runs until March 13. THE love story to end all others, the love that could never be, this is a tale older than time but still able, after all these years, to bring a lump to the throat. Sumptuous costumes and scenery transport the soul to a time of feuding courtiers, bawdy whores and fairytale romance... how often have you been wooed from your balcony lately? Yet for all this I felt last night's production lacked a certain something. Certainly I was not alone in thinking the show overlong, I saw several people leave by the side exits just after the second interval.

And maybe next time when the English National tackle this perennial favourite they will give some thought to the slowness of scene changes which added unnecessary minutes to the production.

Having said this, however, I was staggered by the brilliance of Yat Sen Chang who played the playful but fated Mercutio and Laurentiu Guinea his foil happy adversary.

The beautiful Tamara Rojo - Juliet - and the highly skilful Boris de Leeuw - Romeo- were also excellent.

This production was lifted by the stunning costumes and magnificent scenery, and the tremendous use of colour which emboldened the whole show.

This was no better illustrated than in the performance of Marguerite Porter who played Lady Capulet to perfection aided along the way by a stunning array of vibrant costumes which added depth to her overall performance. ANGELA WARHURST

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.