Act One Scene Five is a hugely important part of 'Romeo and Juliet.' How would you direct this scene, in an original manner, to show this?
' Act One Scene Five is a hugely important part of 'Romeo and
Juliet.' How would you direct this scene, in an original manner, to
show this?'
Introduction
In this essay, I will partly direct and describe Act 1, Scene 5, giving reasonable evidence and quotations towards the main characters of the play.
Act 1, Scene 5 of 'Romeo & Juliet' is a key scene because Romeo and Juliet meet for the first time, Tybalt realises that one of the maskers is a Montague, and we see Capulet's true character. This all takes place at a party hosted by Capulet. The main characters who appear in this scene are Romeo, Juliet, Capulet, Tybalt and Nurse. We learn that Tybalt is the only member of the Capulet and Montague families whose words and actions show the ferocity and deep hatred associated with the feud. Capulet is a difficult character to assess because his behaviour seems so contradictory. He presents an angry figure of short- tempered authority when Juliet refuses to obey him, but at other times speaks to her lovingly. The Nurses' position in the Capulet household is superior to that of a servant. Juliet seems to have taken place of the daughter she once had, and everything she does she does for Juliet's benefit. Romeo is passionate and a bit of a dreamer. His emotions are the most important thing to him and he hardly notices what is going on in the real world. Juliet is a strong character, more practical and down-to-earth than Romeo. When she meets him she becomes more independent.
I will begin the scene in the hall. The guests are entering the beautifully decorated mansion in their outstanding outfits and masks. There is plenty of food, the musicians are playing merrily, and lovely women are dancing with dashing men. Lord Capulet is in his element happily welcoming all his guests. Capulet is thrilled to see all the guests enjoying themselves; 'Welcome gentlemen. Ladies that have their toes unplagued with corns will walk a bout with you (Act 1, Scene 5 lines 14-15). Lord Capulet enjoys playing the role of the gracious patriarch. He's wealthy and he likes to be well thought of. He's on his best behaviour in front of company; he jokes with Paris and calls him "son." He is a man who admires power. As Capulet is the main person in this part of the scene, a bright spotlight will follow him, whereas a dim spotlight will be focused on the guests ( who will make their way behind Capulet after being welcomed). The music in which the musicians play will be jolly and festive to add to the high spirits, and the way in which Capulet moves and speaks will be as if he has not a care in the world but to keep the guests entertained.
Romeo is in a romantic mood. This is apparent when he says 'Did my heart love till now? Forswear it sight! For I ne'er saw beauty till this night.' (Act 1, Scene 5 lines 51-52). These lines are the last two of Romeo's sonnet about Juliet when he falls in love with her. Shakespeare has created poetry as the language of love. I would instruct the actor playing Romeo to act amazed as Rosalind is now past and he has fallen madly in love with Juliet. I would also ask him to act strong, not wanting to let ...
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Romeo is in a romantic mood. This is apparent when he says 'Did my heart love till now? Forswear it sight! For I ne'er saw beauty till this night.' (Act 1, Scene 5 lines 51-52). These lines are the last two of Romeo's sonnet about Juliet when he falls in love with her. Shakespeare has created poetry as the language of love. I would instruct the actor playing Romeo to act amazed as Rosalind is now past and he has fallen madly in love with Juliet. I would also ask him to act strong, not wanting to let go of Juliet, and I would have the lights low with a romantic, slow song playing in the background.
Tybalt's anger contrasts sharply with Romeo's love. As soon as Romeo sets his eyes upon Juliet, he instantly falls in love with her. But when Tybalt identifies Romeo, it is the opposite; hate at first sight. Tybalt is the type of person who benefits for himself and himself only. If he isn't satisfied with someone/thing he won't give a damn whether other people are; 'What dares the slave come hither, covered with an antic face' (Act 1 Scene 5, lines 52-53).
Tybalt doesn't just hate Romeo, but shows that he hates all Montague's. The feud between the Capulet's and Montague's is first mentioned in the prologue that gives the only explanation on why the feud broke out 'From ancient grudge break to new mutiny' (Prologue line 3). This tells us that the feud is 'an ancient grudge' between the two families that no one can remember the cause of. He particularly hates Romeo, he shows this in lines 61-63 'Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe. A villain, that is hither come in spite to scorn at our solemnity this night.' Lord Capulet stops Tybalt from killing Romeo and calls Romeo 'a virtuous and well governed youth.' ( Act 1, Scene 5 lines 67-68). This is Lord Capulet complimenting Romeo and this is not what we would expect from the Lord of the Capulet household, to be complimenting a Montague. This shows that the ancient feud could almost be burning out anyway, or that Capulet's putting a polite show on for the guests. Either way, Tybalt seems to be the one keeping it from dying out completely. For the first time we see Capulet unleash his anger on someone who doesn't instantly obey him; 'Be quiet or I'll make you quiet' ( Act 1, Scene 5 lines 85-87) In the same speech, he goes back and forth between speaking jovially to his guests and calling Tybalt names such as " a saucy boy" and " a princox."
Juliet is in the party mood due to being at a major social convention, until she meets Romeo, from then on she is confused because she is due to be married to Paris, and she has fallen in love with someone else. Before Romeo and Juliet have met, I will have them continuously looking at each other in the eye, this will have implied to the audience that each has fallen in love at first sight. Both Romeo and Juliet will dance with other people, but are also changing partners to get closer to each other. This will illustrate that both of them are in control and both know what they are doing. Then I would suddenly change the music from jolly, festive music to romantic music. Romeo will then reveal his face behind the hidden mask and Juliet cannot stop gazing at him. Romeo will then grab her hands and hold them tight so he can't lose or let go of her. When they finally meet, they're not formally introduced; they don't even know each other's names. Romeo reverently calls her "dear saint," and likens her hand to a shrine, and his lips to two pilgrims who've come to the shrine to be forgiven their sins. Who could resist a romantic line like that? Not Juliet. She's instantly smitten with this mysterious young man, but she gives him a run for his money. He asks if saints have lips as well as hands, and she says yes, but lips are used for prayer. When he does finally kiss her lips to absolve his "sin", she asks if her lips now have the sin, and makes him kiss her again to take it back. It's ironic that from the beginning Romeo claims that kissing Juliet pardons his sins, when some feel that their passion is the sin that leads to their downfall.
As the lovers passionately talk and kiss in a quiet corner, they are unfortunately interrupted by the Nurse, who tells Juliet that her mother wishes to see her. Romeo asks the Nurse who Juliet's mother is, and when he finds out, he exclaims:
'Is she a Capulet? O dear account! My life is my foes debt!' At this point, we will see a change in Romeo's speech and body language. He will change from the flirtatious character the audience will be used to, to a more solemn character. As the party breaks up, Juliet casually asks the Nurse to identify several young men, including Romeo. As the nurse does this, Juliet whispers to herself, "If he is married, my grave is like to be my wedding bed." We know that the opposite of this will be true, it is the first of many ironic foreshadowing's. I will end Act 1, Scene 5 with Romeo standing alone in the corner where Juliet left him. The lights dim and the audience will be able to see Romeo under a spotlight to highlight he is lonely without Juliet.
At the end if this scene we are left with a sense of understanding. If this scene had not happened the play would go nowhere. If Tybalt hadn't heard and recognised Romeo's voice, then he would have had no reason to hate him; which wouldn't have resulted in any of the disasters happening in the play. Most probably, Romeo and Juliet would have lived happily ever after, with out of course the consent of the families.
I think that my production of Romeo and Juliet would be relevant for a modern audience because the two houses of Montague and Capulet are represented by Montague's being black Americans and the Capulet's being white Americans. These visual differences and modern history alongside Shakespeare's traditional language, and racism in America will aid modern understanding of Romeo and Juliet set in America when racism was common.
At the party, every single guest will be of white race. Both Romeo and Benvolio will be aware of this, hence, having no problem in joining the other guests wearing masks. When Tybalt recognises Romeos voice, he will not only find out that Romeo is part of the Montague family, but putting more anger on his mind, will unfortunately identify Romeo as being black. Fortunately for Romeo all the guests will be wrapped up in their fun to notice Romeos race, giving him a chance to escape unnoticed from Tybalt, which is then when he will meet Juliet. As Romeo and Juliet embraces in each other, Juliet at the same time will feel confused about her emotions. Being brought up in a white background, where she was taught that black people had inferior intelligence to that of a dog, she does not understand whether it is love she feels for Romeo or pity. Both of the families being a different race will have a major effect on the play. It will give us more of an understanding as to why both families have an everlasting grudge, and why they will never accept Romeo and Juliet as being a couple. Further on in the play, it is the Nurse who helps Juliet to realise that no matter whether Romeo is yellow, obese or from a different planet she will always love him.
Helena Foster 10IE
