"It's a lyrical play," says Li Jiajie, a music critic from Shanghai. "All the songs are beautiful and the story is told through panoramic scenes and juxtaposed details."

The stage settings and costume designs are elaborate, Li says. The two families are dressed in either red or blue, so that when Romeo and Juliette get married the colors mix into a romantic shade of purple.

Joy Esther takes the part of Juliette and has played the role for six years, though this is the first time she has worked with Niccolai. One of her favorite songs from the production is J'ai Peur (I'm Afraid).

J'ai Peur is performed by Romeo in act one when he witnesses conflict between the two families and feels the shadow of death. In the play, Death takes the form of a woman.

The actress, Aurelie Badol, has performed as "Death" since 2007. She was trained in modern dance and unlike the other main characters she doesn't sing, but rather expresses herself in dance and through body language.

"Death is part of the natural force - part of life itself," Badol says during dress rehearsals. "I'm the one that gives immortality to the love between Romeo and Juliette."

Shanghai audiences have shown great enthusiasm for the production and tickets for the show after New Year have almost all been sold, says Hu Yun, a spokeswoman for the theater.

Shanghai Culture Square is dedicated to the presentation of musical productions from home and abroad.

zhangkun@chinadaily.com.cn