EP Year 5 present…
Romeo and Juliet
from
Romeo and Juliet
By
William Shakespeare
Characters
Prince Escalus, Prince of Verona - Callum
Count Paris, a young friend to the Prince - Louis
The Montagues
Lord Montague, head of the house of Montague - Archie
Lady Montague - Rachel
Romeo, the Montagues’ son - Eugene
Mercutio, Romeo’s friend - Lee
Benvolio, Romeo’s friend - Peggy
Abraham, swordsman for the Montagues - Josh
Balthasar, swordsman for the Montagues - William
Watchman & sword fighter 1 - Hamza
The Capulet
Lord Capulet, head of the house of Capulet - Tom
Lady Capulet - Trinity
Tybalt, Lord Capulet’s nephew -Jimi
Sampson, swordsman and friend of Tybalt - Nathan
Juliet, the Capulets’ daughter - Katerina
Juliet’s Nurses and best friends: Freya, Sawdah & Jemima
Gregory, swordsman for the Capulets - Harry
Watchman & sword fighter 2 - Subeer
Sister Lauren - Maddy
Sister Josephine - Esme
Apothecaries, sellers of poisons and potions – Myron & Joey
Romeo rappers, telling the story in modern language:
Gabriel, Jerry, Jude, Arnold, Luc & Danny
Scene 1.
Whole class enters to music (I giorini) and each have a handshake if they are on the same side, or a mimed aggressive action, separating into the Capulets and the Montagues on stage and going to the benches. When everyone is in, we do our prepared actions learnt in PE!
Paris:
Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life;
Whose misadventur’d piteous overthrows
Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife.
For never was a story of more woe
Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.
Sampson and Gregory come in last.
Sampson: (Boastfully and full of hatred) I strike quickly, being moved, and a dog of the house of Montague moves me.
Gregory: (Aggressively) The quarrel is between our masters and us their men. Draw: here come two of the house of Montague.
(Enter Abraham and Balthasar, armed)
Sampson: (Drawing) I will bite my thumb at them, which is a disgrace to them. (He bites his thumb at them.)
Abraham: Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
Sampson: I bite my thumb, sir.
Gregory: Do you quarrel, sir?
Abraham: Quarrel, sir! No, sir.
Sampson: If you do, I am for you; I serve a better man than you.
Abraham: You lie!
Sampson: Draw, if you be men!
(They prepare to fight. Enter Benvolio.)
Benvolio: Part, fools! (Beating down their swords) You know not what you do!
(Enter Tybalt.)
Tybalt: (Drawing) What, art drawn, Benvolio? Look upon thy death.
Benvolio: I do it but to keep the peace.
Tybalt: Peace? I hate the word, as I hate all Montagues! (Loudly) Have at thee!
(They circle, feinting. Others of both houses enter and face each other.)
Montagues: Down with the Capulets!
Capulets: Down with the Montagues!
(Enter at the front of the stage, Lord Capulet and Lady Capulet; at the other side, Lord Montague and Lady Montague.)
Lord Capulet: Old Montague! My sword!
Lord Montague: Thou villain Capulet!
POSSIBLE SONG: WE’RE GONNA GET YOU Montagues: Verse 1Capulets: verse 2Men and women separate for 3 and 4.
Everyone freezes in aggressive positions. You must be statues!
Romeo Rappers to a beat:
Gabriel:
A great welcome
this is to our show (sarcastic)
these stupid fools
fight blow for blow
not men at all
they act like beasts
snarling and snapping
not keeping the peace
Jude:
so let’s…. get
this story straight
2 families
Are filled with hate
Capulets
and Montagues
they’ve fought for years
in a fatal feud
Danny:
but the worst thing
about this lot
is that they can’t
remember exactly what
started it all
how did it begin?
All they want
Is a win!
Jerry:
But look over there
At the Prince’s frown
He won’t let mad
Blood rise in town
Arnold:
Anyone fighting
Here today
Luc:
Might with be kicked out
Or with his life… pay!
(Enter the Prince. Trumpet. All fall silent.)
Prince: Thrice have brawls, bred by thee, old Capulet,
And thee, old Montague, disturbed our quiet.
Disturb our streets again and your lives shall pay.
Capulet, come; Montague, this afternoon.
Once more, on pain of death, all men depart.
(Exit all but Lord Montague, Lady Montague and Benvolio.)
Possible song: Laura’s R& J song.
Scene 2.
Lord Montague: Who set this ancient quarrel new, nephew?
Benvolio: Servants, both Capulet’s and yours, were fighting;
I drew to part them; in comes Tybalt, sword prepared.
Then came more and more, till the prince parted us.
Lady Montague: I’m right glad Romeo was not at this fray.
Benvolio: See, he comes; step aside: I’ll know his grievance.
(Exit Lord Montague and Lady Montague. Enter Romeo and Mercutio.)
Benvolio: Good morrow, cousin.
Romeo: Is the day so young? Ay me! Sad hours seem long.
Benvolio: Why so? What sadness lengthens Romeo’s hours?
Romeo: I am out of her favour, where I am in love.
Mercutio: (with disgust!) In love?
Romeo: In sadness friend, I do love a woman.
Benvolio: Tell me, in sadness, who is that you love.
Romeo: One who hath forsworn to love; and in that vow
Do I live dead that live to tell it now.
Benvolio: Be ruled by me, forget to think of her:
Use thine eyes: examine other beauties.
Romeo: Farewell: thou canst not teach me to forget.
Benvolio: I’ll pay that doctrine, or else die in debt.
Benvolio is trying to cheer Romeo up and Mercutio is looking irritated. Enter servant 1
Mercutio: Look, here is another fellow with troubles. Let us see what is the matter.
Servant 2: My master is the great rich Capulet; and he is having a great masked ball. He has written me a list of those invited but alas, I cannot read it all.
Benvolio: Why, I will help you sir. (takes the list) Let me see… yes, Lord and Lady Soandso, great lord Suchandscuh…. ROSALINE….Lady Humblebumble…
When Romeo hears the name Rosaline, he gets up and looks excited.
Servant 2: Thank you so much kind sir.
Exit servant.
Benvolio: At this same feast of old Capulet
Sups the fair Rosaline, whom thou so lovest,
With all the other beauties of Verona.
Go, weigh your love against some other maid.
Romeo: I’ll go, but to rejoice in Rosaline
Romeo rappers:
Gabriel:
Back up back up
What have we just seen
Not everyone’s fighting
In this scene
Jude:
Romeo seems
To love some girl
But his friend Mercuitio
Wants to hurl!
Danny:
All this lovey stuff
makes him sick
But now he’s found
A party trick
Jerry:
All 3 lads
Will break into
The masqued ball
The capulet do!
Arnold:
They’re Montagues
So if anyone sees
Their lives will be
History!
Luc:
Why take the risk?
It’s a bad idea
But Romeo’s love
Takes away his fear…
Ooooooh dear… we’re… outa here…!
Scene 3.
( Enter Lord Capulet and Count Paris)
Paris: Now, my lord Capulet, what say you to my suit? (he means his marriage proposal!)
Lord Capulet: Juliet hath not seen the change of fourteen years,
But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart.
This night I hold a feast: you are most welcome.
Come, go with me.
(They freeze on stage, in party positions ie. Drinking wine and talking.)
(Enter Lady Capulet and Juliet.)
Lady Capulet: Tell me, daughter Juliet, how stands
Your disposition to be married?
Juliet: It is an honour that I dream not of.
Lady Capulet: The County Paris seeks you for his love;
What say you? Can you love the gentleman?
This night you shall behold him at our feast.
Juliet: I’ll look to like, if looking move liking,
But no more deep than your consent shall give.
(Enter watchman 2.)
Watchman 2: Madam, the guests are come, supper served up, and you and my young lady asked for. (Exit.)
Lady Capulet: (excitedly) We follow thee. The County Paris stays;
Come, girl, seek happy nights to happy days.
(Freeze in party positions with masks on! Tudor dancing music in the background. Enter Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio.)
Benvolio: Come, let us enter, and no sooner in,
Than every man betake him to his legs.
(They put on half-masks and stand aside as Capulet, Lady Capulet, Juliet, Tybalt and other Capulets enter.)
Lord Capulet: Welcome, gentlemen! I have seen the day
When I have worn a visor! Come, musicians, play!
Paris: Come, let us enter, and no sooner in,
Than every man betake him to his partner.
Musicians play!
(The music plays louder, and dancing begins. It needs to be very clear on stage who Juliet, Romeo and Tybalt are. They need to be very visable… everyone else facing the other way and lower down.)
Benvolio: Come, let us enter, and no sooner in,
Than every man betake him to his legs.
Romeo: (Crossing to Mercutio) What lady’s that?
Mercutio: I know not, sir.
Romeo: Her beauty hangs upon the cheek of night
Like a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear.
The measure done, I’ll watch her place of stand
And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand.
Tybalt: Uncle, this is that Romeo, a Montague.
Lord Capulet: Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone.
Tybalt: I’ll not endure him!
Lord Capulet: He shall be endured:
I am the master here!
Tybalt: Why, uncle, ‘tis a shame —
Capulet: Go to, go to;
Be quiet, or I’ll make you quiet!
Tybalt: (Loudly) I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall,
Now seeming sweet, convert to bitter gall. (Exit in a rage!)
(During the above, Romeo moves quietly round towards Juliet. Paris bows and leaves her, alone. Romeo takes her hand. Only Romeo and Juliet are moving on stage. Everyone else silent and still)
Romeo rappers:
Gabriel:
Whoooa! Tybalt’s in
An awful mood
He’s a violent man
And very rude!
He wants to kill
Poor Romeo
Because he is
His family’s foe
Jude:
Lord Capulet
Showed he’s alright
For breaking up
The deadly fight
Danny:
But it’s like Romeo
wants to die
Look who’s caught
Romeo’s eye!
Jerry:
Rosaline?
He’s over that
Our Romeo’s
A fickle cat.
Arnold
It’s the daughter of
His enemy
Paris’ girl
Luc (interrupting)
… you’re tellin’ me
He’s picked
A Capulet Juliet?
That’s a move
He will regret!
(Romeo and Juliet stand opposite each other with Romeo bowing to Juliet’s hand)
Nurse Freya: (interrupting but they still look at each other) Madam, your mother craves a word with you. (Juliet goes over to her mother)
Romeo: Who is her mother?
Nurse Sawdah: Her mother is the lady of the house.
Romeo: Is she a Capulet? My life is my foe’s debt.
Benvolio: Away, be gone. (Exit Romeo, Benvolio and Mercutio)
Juliet: Come hither, nurse. What is yond gentleman? Go ask his name.
Nurse Jemima: His name is Romeo, and a Montague. The only son of your great enemy!
Juliet: My only love sprung from my only hate! Exit all.
Nurse Freya: Come, let’s away; the strangers are all gone.
Scene 4
(Capulet’s garden. Enter Romeo. He looks up at Juliet’s window.)
Romeo: But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east and Juliet is the sun!
Juliet: (To herself, sighing.) O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?
‘Tis but thy name that is my enemy; —
O, be some other name, and take myself.
Romeo: Call me but love, and I’ll be new baptised.
Juliet: I know the sound: what man art thou?
Art thou not Romeo and a Montague?
This place is death, considering who thou art,
If any of my kinsmen find thee here.
Romeo: I have night’s cloak to hide me from their sight,
And but thou love me, let them find me here.
Juliet: Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say ‘Ay’;
Thou mayst prove false, but I’ll prove true.
Romeo: Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear —
Juliet: O, do not swear: although I do joy in thee,
I have no joy of this contract tonight:
It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden.
Nurses all: (Off) Juliet!
Juliet: Anon, good nurse! Sweet Montague, be true,
If thy purpose is marriage, send word tomorrow,
Where and what time thou wilt perform the rite.
Nurses all: (Off) Juliet!
Juliet: I come, anon. ‘Tis almost morning; I would have thee gone;
Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow. (Exit.)
Romeo: Hence will I to Sister Laren’s chapel,
His help to crave, and my dear hap to tell.
(Exit.)
Romeo Rappers:
Gabriel:
Hold up, hold up!
Married already?
They’ve only just met
They should be more steady.
Jude:
And the other problem
With this plan
Is that Juliet’s dad
Found another man
Danny:
Juliet’s engaged
To two men… whoa!
Paris and
Our Romeo
Luc:
The Capulets
Will never agree!
This won’t end well
Wait and see!
Scene 5.
(Sister Lauren’s chapel. Enter Romeo.)
Sister Lauren: (Gathering herbs)
Powerful is the grace in herbs and plants,
For naught so vile that on the earth doth live,
But to the earth some special good doth give.
Within the infant rind of this small flower (Holding up a flower)
Poison hath residence, and medicine power:
For this, being smelt, with that part cheers each part;
Being tasted, slays all senses with the heart.
Romeo: Good morrow, sisters.
Sister Lauren: (looking at him then teasing) But where hast thou been then?
Sister Josephine: Young son, it argues a distemper’d head
So soon to bid good morrow to thy bed,
Or, if not so, then here I hit it right —
Our Romeo hath not been in bed tonight
Romeo: Plainly know my heart’s dear love is set
On the fair daughter of rich Capulet.
We met, we woo’d, we vowed, and this I pray
That thou consent to marry us today.
Sister Lauren: What of Rosaline, whom thou didst love so dear?