Romeo and Juliet Parody Assignment

Romeo and Juliet Parody Assignment

Group Skits

Students will work in groups to translate assigned scenes from the play into PARODIES (humorous imitations ridiculing or criticizing the original). Group performances need to be a minimum of eight minutes in length, and scripts can be used on stage. Each actor must have either a prop or costume of some kind. Each actor has to have speaking lines, and the group should try to even out the number of lines for everyone by adding dialogue for some characters or assigning actors more than one role.

Once groups are set:

1.)READ assigned scenes and discuss

2.)DECIDE how your group wants to present the scenes. The storyline and characters stay the same. DO NOT write a version that changes the story, just translate the lines into you group’s chosen style.

Some past styles:

-Present day (“Yo, Romeo! Wassup?”)

-Western (gunfight in the square)

-Monty Python (with British accents)

-Science Fiction (“Beam me up, Juliet”)

-Obvious opposite groups (Burger King vs. McDonald’s)

-Any other original ideas (the possibilities are endless)

3.)DECIDE if you need all the characters (omit minor ones?) or if you need to have some students play more than one role. (Two roles is the maximum to avoid confusion.)

4.)Begin TRANSLATING/WRITING A SCRIPT that each group member will use for rehearsals and performances. Divide the lines evenly among the members and revise together when all are done. Include stage directions on character movements and how lines are to be said.

Copy of your group’s script due: ______(Make sure it is an extra copy.)

Performances begin: ______

Romeo and Juliet Parody Checklist

Parody should make sense and have the same story line as Romeo and Juliet

The major events of the play should stay the same. For example, if someone dies in Shakespeare’s version, that character must die in your version as well. However, you may change HOW a character dies.

The characters’ names should stay the same unless your group has approval from the teacher.

The final copy must be typed.

The final copy should be 2-3 typed pages in order to show that you have spent time and effort on your parody.

Each person’s section should be in a distinctly different font or color.

The entire script should be in 12 point font.

You must provide a key to the fonts or colors showing which section belongs to which group member

The script should look like the following sample:

Romeo: Wait! What light is on in that window up above?

Oh! It is my Juliet, who shines on me and warms me like the sun.

Juliet:Oh my!

Romeo:She speaks! I hope she speaks again, for she is an angel, one far above

our mortal sphere!

EACH MEMBER OF YOUR GROUP MUST HAVE A COPY OF THE SCRIPT DURING PERFORMANCES – NO SHARING!