Romeo & Juliet

       

Select a scene or episode from the play you have studied and explain how you would produce it. (JC 1999)

The play I studied this year was Rome and Juliet. The scene I would select from Romeo and Juliet to produce is the final scene of the play.

The scene begins when a grieving Paris enters with his servant. I would have Paris enter from front stage left with his servant trailing behind. Juliet’s tomb would be across most of the back of the stage with a small space on either side. Juliet would lie on a concrete slab in centre stage. Paris would enter and would be dressed well despite losing his future wife to death. He would speak quietly but with meaning. His servant would have a lot of manners and speak with respect for Paris when answering him.

Romeo would enter centre stage right with his servant. Romeo would be dressed in dirty clothes and with a shirt that has holes in it because he has just travelled long to get to Juliet. Romeo would whisper to his servant to avoid detection from anyone lurking. After Romeo tells his servant not to go over to Romeo no matter what, the servant would sneak off stage from where he had entered.

Then Romeo would make his way to the tomb in a crouched position. Paris would be standing outside the tomb turned 90 degrees to face both the audience and Romeo once he sees him. When Romeo reaches the front of the tomb he stands once he sees Paris. When he tries to convince Paris not to fight he would speak in a kind voice but still not to loud as he still doesn’t want to be detected. Paris would speak with anger and he would speak quickly to build tension. When the fight begins they would move around the front of the stage until Romeo defeats Paris. When Romeo enters the tomb he would walk around the back of the table where Juliet is lying so that he faces the audience. He would speak slowly and he would begin crying when talking to her. He would then drink the poison. When Juliet wakes she would look lost for a few seconds to begin. She would get up and remember where she was. She would speak with delight that the potion works but then she would then see Romeo and begin crying. When she gets the knife she would go to center stage and speak very slowly and clearly before killing herself. When the parents enter they would be dressed in just the pajamas of the time as they rushed out once they heard what had happened. Prince would finally enter and go to front stage center and finish the play.