William Shakespeare’s brilliant tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, has endured for over 422 years; however, even more intriguing is the play’s transition into the modern choreographic realm. Choreographers such as Kenneth MacMillan and Krzysztof Pastor have reimagined Shakespeare’s text to portray the traditional Verona as well as modern Italy throughout the 20th Century. Both Kenneth MacMillan and Krzysztof Pastor’s choreography is set to Sergei Prokofiev’s 1938 musical score, and both choreographers keep Verona, Italy as the central background for the classic love story. However, how each of the choreographers characterizes each of the principal characters–Romeo, Juliet, Tybalt, and Mercutio–is specific to each of the choreographic styles. In general, …show more content…
Romeo is seen as more of the mediator between Mercutio and Tybalt rather than Benvolio, whose role is present but greatly diminished in Pastor’s choreographic interpretation. While the families are defined as “both alike in dignity” by Shakespeare, Pastor decides to separate the two families not only with hatred but also with societal standing (Act I, Prologue). The sharper more aggressive Capulets are the militaristic leaders of Italy throughout the 1900s while the more carefree and inviting Montagues are the working class underneath the power of the Capulets. This decreases the need for a prince, whose peacekeeping role is assumed by Friar Lawrence. Krzysztof Pastor makes use of Prokofiev’s thematic score to create montages of Verona throughout the 20th Century, specifically the 1930s, 1950s, and 1990s which correlate to each of the three acts. Within both the first and second act of ballet, there is a distinct scene that occurs in both acts where Juliet walks through the aftermath of a fight between the Capulets and Montagues. It is significant that this scene does not occur in the final act. The dead of each of the families are not the fighters but rather the lovers. However, Pastor does not end the ballet the way that Shakespeare ends the play. Lord Capulet grieves and says to Lord Montague, “Give me thy hand: this is my daughter’s jointure, for no more can I demand” (Act IV, Scene V). While William Shakespeare intends for the families to feel the “poor sacrifices of our enmity” (Act IV, Scene V). Pastor disregards this final hopeful moment and replaces it with an image of the two families taking their respective dead child and leaving in opposite directions. This is meant to be reminiscent of the continual struggle for peace, regardless of time or generation. Pastor describes the passion of Romeo and Juliet to be
Romeo and Juliet is a play about two lovers who have to risk their lives in order to demonstrate their love and will to stay together, regardless the feud between their families. By the end, the death of Romeo and Juliet finally bring the reconciliation to these two families. It is fate that the two most shall-not meet people fall in love and it love that eventually won against hatred. Since then, there have been many different versions of Romeo and Juliet, whether it was for film, stage, musicals. These different recontextualised adaptions change the original play by many ways, some modernise the language, environment, props as well as changing the original characteristics of some characters. Out of all the different adaptions of Romeo and Juliet, two stood out the most. One was the Romeo and Juliet (1996) and directed by Baz Luhrmann and the other one was Romeo and Juliet Broadway (2013) play version,
When there is a fight in the market place, Capulet rushes to fight for his honor, “my sword I say, old Montague is come...” Capulet denies Paris’ request to marry Juliet “ and too soon marred are those so early made,” acting for his own good because he wants Juliet to produce many offspring to carry on the Capulets bloodline, since she is his only surviving child. When at the ball Capulet demands Tybalt to let Romeo be,” content thee, gentle coz, let him alone,” but this just fuels Tybalts anger towards Romeo, which eventually ends up in Tybalt causing his own death. Capulet believes he is giving his child the best when he announces her engagement to Paris” she shall be married to this noble earl,” and believes Paris will make a good husband for Juliet. When Juliet refuses Capulet thinks it best to threaten her, “I will drag thee,” but this just makes Juliet turn to more drastic measures.
As a famous author once said, “You don’t have to attend every argument you’re invited to.” To clarify, it isn’t necessary to engage in every conflict that is encountered. In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Tybalt is a truculent and unsympathetic man who tends to take the quarrel between the Capulets and Montagues a step too far. He soon is challenged with a fight he cannot beat. In this tragic play, Tybalt’s tragic flaw of aggressiveness guides him towards a bitter end.
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and Baz Lurhmann's Film Version Previously, in Act 2 Scene 6, we have seen Romeo and Juliet marrying one another thus binding the Montagues with the Capulets together. The marriage had to take place in secret, due to the war between the two families. We see at the beginning of Act 3 Scene 1, the behaviour between Romeo, Mercutio and Tybalt reflect the hatred between the Montagues and Capulets. Throughout this essay I shall be looking at the main characters of Act 3 Scene 1, also I will discuss the way Shakespeare presents the characters in the play and in contrast with Baz Lurhmann's film of Romeo and Juliet, to see if Lurhmann adds anything to how the characters are represented in the film. At the start of act 3 scene 1 we see Mercutio's arrogance, as when confronted by Tybalt, he tells him that he "will not budge".
The story takes place in Verona, where they live two families are rivals, the Montagues and the Capulets. Romeo, sole heir of the Montagues, coming in uninvited to dance mask Capulet, which meets Juliet, only daughter of the Capulets; both fall in love at first sight. Knowing that their parents never allow their union, they marry in secret, with the help of Friar Laurence. The day of the ceremony, Tybalt insults Romeo, nevertheless the latter refuses to fight. But Mercutio, the best friend of the young Montague, engages death duel with Tybalt. Romeo and Tybalt tries to separate fail to mortally wound Mercutio. Romeo, Tybalt challenges and then avenges his friend killing his adversary. The Prince of Verona, outraged by the events, Romeo sentence
William Shakespeare made Tybalt Capulet as the foil character for Romeo Montague. There are similarities between Tybalt and Romeo they both care about Juliet. They have differences because they are from different families and different ways of growing up. Tybalt judged Romeo for his name and not for his character.
The environment surrounding the star-crossed lovers in the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet can influence audiences who may interpret the scenes in different ways. The audience can be greatly affected in their interpretation of the story by the mise-en-scene, costuming, and the hidden symbolic meaning. This great piece of literature was edited in two unique and intriguing forms, one Zeferelli directed which was filmed in 1968, and the modern version produced in 1996. The different scenes throughout the length of the party were the most influential to me in that I saw how different these movies were directed, and the different meaning I experienced from watching these movies. Focusing on the environment of the scenes and the costuming helped me in my interpretation, because I found hidden symbolism in these two qualities.
Luhrmann’s 1996 Romeo and Juliet is compelling when communicating the main ideas of the play by providing the audience with a modern translation of the play using the motifs in the film which correlate to the play.
The classic play Romeo and Juliet by the famous playwright William Shakespeare is one of the most beautiful love stories of all time and has captured and inspired readers everywhere. Regardless of the fact that it was written in the 1500’s, it is still being performed and extolled today. There is a multitude of reasons for such continuance of the play. First of all, its everlasting themes of love and hate enable people to deeply relate to the story. Secondly, its memorable characters deeply imprint on the minds of readers. And lastly, above all, is its magnificent language which many writers today regard in awe. These three elements make the acclaimed play, Romeo and Juliet, one of the most timeless stories of our lives.
Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, is a tragic love story about two young lovers who are forced to be estranged as a result of their feuding families. The play is about their struggle to contravene fate and create a future together. As such, it was only a matter of time before Hollywood would try and emulate Shakespeare’s masterpiece. This had been done before in many films. Prominent among them were, Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 “Romeo and Juliet” and Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 “William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet.” Both films stay true to the themes of Shakespeare’s original play. However, the modernised Luhrmann film not only maintains the essence of Shakespeare’s writings, Luhrmann makes it relevant to a teenage audience. This is done through the renewal of props and costumes, the reconstruction of the prologue and the upgrading of the setting, whilst preserving the original Shakespearean language. Out of the two, it is Luhrmann who targets Romeo & Juliet to a younger audience to a much larger extent than Zeffirelli.
Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, is a tragic love story about two young lovers who are forced to be estranged as a result of their feuding families. The play is about their struggle to contravene fate and create a future together. As such, it was only a matter of time before Hollywood would try to emulate Shakespeare’s masterpiece. This had been done before in many films. Prominent among them were, Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 “Romeo and Juliet” and Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 “William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet.” Both films stay true to the themes of Shakespeare’s original play. However, the modernised Luhrmann film not only maintains the essence of Shakespeare’s writings, Luhrmann makes it relevant to a teenage audience. This is done through upgrading of the setting, the renewal of props and costumes, the use of water symbolism and the reconstruction of the prologue, whilst preserving the original Shakespearean language. Out of the two, it is Luhrmann who targets Romeo & Juliet to a younger audience to a much larger extent than Zeffirelli.
Baz Lurhmann’s creation of the film Romeo and Juliet has shown that today’s audience can still understand and appreciate William Shakespeare. Typically, when a modern audience think of Shakespeare, they immediately think it will be boring, yet Lurhmann successfully rejuvenates Romeo and Juliet. In his film production he uses a number of different cinematic techniques, costumes and a formidably enjoyable soundtrack; yet changes not one word from Shakespeare’s original play, thus making it appeal to a modern audience.
In the tremendous play of ‘Romeo & Juliet’, Shakespeare’s ways engages the audience straight away. The astounding methods he uses hooks the audience into the play and allows them to read on, wondering what will happen. The tragic love story of Romeo & Juliet, as mentioned in the prologue, sets a variety of themes throughout Act 1 Scene 5. Many of the recognisable themes are: youth and age, revenge, forbidden love, fate, action and hate. The main idea of the play is a feud that had been going on between two families, The ‘Montagues and Capulets’, the son of the Montagues and the daughter of the Capulets fall in love and the story tells us how tragic, death, happiness and revenge find them throughout the play.
“The most filmed of all plays, ‘Romeo and Juliet’, with its universal themes… remains uniquely adaptable for any time period,” (Botnick, 2002). Directors Franco Zeffirelli (1968) and Baz Luhrman (1996) provide examples of the plays adaption to suit the teenage generation of their time. Identifying the key elements of each version: the directors intentions, time/place, pace, symbols, language and human context is one way to clearly show how each director clearly reaches their target audience. Overall however Luhrman’s adaptation would be more effective for capturing the teenage audience.
Being a director in a production such as Romeo and Juliet is no easy task, and I enter into this paper with that in mind. My goals are to be creative, and do things differently from the many versions of the play we have viewed in class. Each of those directors took the original text, written by William Shakespeare, and turned it into a unique version of their own; unique in the sense that they changed the tragedy by taking out lines, conversation or even entire scenes to better suit that particular director’s needs.