Workshop Romeo and Juliet

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 6

Word of the day: Grandiose

adjective gran-dee-OHSS

Grandiose is most often used disapprovingly to describe something that seems impressive or is intended to be impressive, but is either not possible or practical.

// The committee eventually scaled back the most outlandish parts of its plans for the festival, including a grandiose scheme to bring in live peacocks for the event.

What do you already know about Romeo and Juliet's story? Maybe you already know some quotes?

The famous prologue; Baz Luhrmann version 1996

If you are new to the story, what do you pick up from this prologue?

Who are the 'main characters'?

Can you remember any names?

Fun facts R+J

The first publication of Romeo and Juliet is thought to be an unauthorized version of the play (1597-1599).

Juliet is just 13 years old.

There is no balcony in Romeo and Juliet’s “balcony scene.” (1618)

It wasn’t until 1662 that a woman played the role of Juliet.

Dante first mentioned the two families in his epic poem 'Divine Comedy'

Shakespeare based his 'star-crossed lovers' on the main characters in Arthur Brooke’s 1562 poem “The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet.”

The ending is hardly a surprise after hearing the prologue

2

3

4

5

6

7

1

Juliet wakes up, sees Romeo dead and kills herself.

Romeo thinks Juliet is really dead. He takes poison.

Romeo and Juliet meet and fall in love.

Juliet takes a drug to make people think she’s dead.

The two families make peace.

Romeo and Juliet secretly get married.

The Montagues and the Capulets hate each other.

Analyzing the Balcony scene

Every production of Romeo and Juliet is unique, since every production must make countless acting and staging choices. Act 2, scene 2 is a particularly iconic scene, often called the “balcony scene” (even though Shakespeare doesn’t mention a balcony!). Every production must decide how to stage this memorable scene. 

In pairs, watch the following clip and answer the questions.

You can use one device to watch the clip on and the other to answer the questions.

The different versions throughout history

Romeo and Juliet directed by George Cukor (1936), Norma Shearer as Juliet

Romeo and Juliet directed by Franco Zeffirelli (1968), Olivia Hussey as Juliet

Romeo and Juliet directed by Alvin Rakoff (1976), Rebecca Saire as Juliet

Romeo + Juliet directed by Baz Luhrmann (1996), Claire Danes as Juliet

Romeo and Juliet directed by Rupert Goold (2010), Mariah Gale as Juliet

How is Romeo masked from view?

Are there any costume choices that impact your perception of a character?

How would you describe each Juliet? What factors impact your perception of her?

Are there any lines that stood out to you because of the way they were delivered?

Which casting choices “work” for you? Are there any that didn’t?

Self- study / Next lesson

Read through the 30 minute version of R+J after starting in class

Maybe we have time to watch a bit of  the awesome Baz Luhrmann film version?

Pick your novel and let me know which one you are reading

msa2.sharepoint.com

In depth study

In the description below the YouTube video of the balcony scene, there are 4 more comparative videos on the portrayal of several Romeo and Juliet scenes in large movie productions:

Romeo & Juliet: Analyzing Staging in Act 1 - "Do you bite your thumb at us?"

Romeo & Juliet - Analyzing Staging in Act 3 - Mercutio: "A plague on both your houses"

Romeo & Juliet - Analyzing Staging in Act 4 - Juliet Drinks Potion

Romeo & Juliet - Analyzing Staging in Act 5 - The Deaths

Choose one of the videos and analyze the different appearances of the scene depicted. Do this by answering the following questions:

• Which characters are in this scene and what does each of the characters want?

• Are there any costume choices that impact your perception of a character?

• Are there any lines that stood out to you because of the way they were delivered?

• Which casting choices “work” for you? Are there any that don’t?