Directing a Scene from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Directing a Scene from ‘Romeo and Juliet’

In this essay I will imagine that I am directing a scene from Romeo

and Juliet. I will be discussing how I would stage this scene in both

modern and Shakespearean times. Throughout the play there are strong

scenes of violence between the two warring families (the Capulets and

the Montagues) and the scene I have chosen to base my essay on is a

prime example of this. The scene I have chosen to discuss is act three

scene one. This is an extremely powerful scene and is one of the most

pivotal points in the play as it shows us the deaths of both Mercutio

and Tybalt while also showing us the banishment of Romeo. It also

portrays the characters deepest feeling towards the family grudge.

Staging the play in Shakespearean times will obviously be a lot

different to a modern day production. To show this I will be looking

at cast, costumes, sets, props, lighting, the most important points in

the scene and how imperative the audience are to the play. I will

start by discussing whom I would cast in the roles of the main

characters.

Casting roles in Shakespearean times would be a lot more difficult

because of the fact that in those times only males were allowed to

perform on stage. This would obviously cause problems when casting

roles such as Juliet, Juliet’s nurse, Lady Montague and Capulet and

other female parts. I will be discussing whom I would cast as Romeo,

Tybalt, Benvolio, Mercutio and Prince Escales for both modern day and

Shakespearean times. I will not be looking at Juliet for the simple

reason that she is not in this scene. For a modern day Romeo I would

choose someone like Elijah Wood. This is because he is handsome, he is

an average height and he gives of a great impression of innocence

through his boyish facial features. I would want a handsome Romeo

because I believe that today’s audiences are more likely to enjoy a

love story with someone who is attractive and someone they could

imagine themselves falling in love with rather than someone who an

audience couldn’t stand the sight of. I believe he should have an

innocent look because the character of Romeo does not wish to fight,

but is more concerned about falling in love. “Gentlemen, for shame,

forbear this outrage!” (Romeo, Act three scene one, line eighty-six.)

In Shakespearean times I would want to convey the innocence ...

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...rcutio

makes as he is dying would be essential to maintain the audiences

interest.

As I have noted before what the play is trying to tell the audience

does not change but the way it tells the audience does. In my opinion

the play is trying to inform the audience that love is the deepest and

most complex of human emotions and that if it takes hold of you it can

evoke all sorts of other emotions like hatred (Romeo’s hatred towards

Tybalt significantly escalated after he found love with Juliet),

sadness (when Romeo returns to Verona to find Juliet pretending to be

dead), vengefulness (Romeo had eventually decided that he was going to

avenge Mercutio or die trying) and many others. Romeo portrayed all of

these emotions I have listed throughout the play mainly after he found

love with Juliet. Even before he fell in love with Juliet Romeo felt

sadness and loneliness because he was in love with Rosaline, something

she did not return. This is what the play is tying to tell the

audience and while how that is done may differ from one generation to

the other I believe I have created two versions of the story that are

exciting and interesting for their respective targets.