The stage will be quite simmilar to the sixteenth century stage, it will just be updated for recent technology, it will have the same basic structure including the two pillars in the middle of the stage, also the audience will still be sitting around the outside of the stage. The ceiling will not be the same ornate celing, it will be very plain as this is where the lighting and special effects will come from, also the ceiling will be higher as this way it will not be noticed as part of the scenery. The back of the stage will still have the stairway in the centre but the surroundings will be plain and more modern. I have chosen this setting for the play as I feel the role of Capulet will be stronger in a modern day setting. This will be because a modern day audience will think that the way Capulet treats Juliet and Lady Capulet is not fair and I feel this will have a huge impact on the play as a whole.
As Capulet enters the room this will be a great entrance as he needs to be seen with great power, so there will be a loud slamming of a door as he enters and walks towards you. Capulet needs to be noticed as soon as he walks in the room by the audience aswell as the cast.
The first part in this scene that I feel is very important is when Capulet enters the room and notices you crying. "How now, a conduit, girl? What, still in tears? Evermore showering?" Capulet thinks that you are still crying over the death of your cousin, Tybalt but it is really over you not wanting to marry Paris. Capulet also sees that you are crying a great deal, so i would like you to do this. After this I would like you to pull yourself together as you are about to stand up to your father. I would like you to do this by taking a deep breath and standing straight.
When Lady Capulet says that you do not want to marry Paris you need to look very shocked that she refers to death. "I would the fool were married to her grave." At this point you must look shocked and I want you to do this by gasping covering your mouth with your hands and taking a sharp step backwards. You then must take a step foward as Capulet finishes his lines and you must be ready to stand up to him.
You are very distraught that you are being forced to marry Paris. "Not proud you have, but thankful that you have: Proud can I never be of what I hate." You must be nervous that you are saying this to your father but also you need to show strength by standing tall and exagerating hand and body movements, such as moving your hand fowards, as you say this line to your father. You must also be saying these lines in a very strong way.
When Capulet replies to your brave behaviour you start to regret what you have said. "Good father, I beseech you on my kneees, Hear me with patience but to speak a word." You must kneel down in front of Capulet staring up at him with a scared and nervous look on your face. This will also make Capulet look much higher than you in size and status. These lines are needed to be said in a small regretfull voice as you regret what you have just said to your father.
By this next point you are extremly regreting what you said to Capulet. "Hang thee, young baggage, disobedient wretch!" You must have tears of horror rolling down your face and you must also step back to stand behind Nurse, this will give the impresion that you are hiding from your father and that you are very scared. At this point the lights will also be focused on Capulet, this will help to show that he is the most powerfull in the room.
Nurse will try and protect you so you must stand closer to her as if she is your only protection from Capulet. "God in heaven bless her!" This will be very effective towards the audience as it will make capulet seem like an evil man causing them to feel sorry for you. Also at this point Nurse will be standing next to a chair so she will pull this closer towards her as a protection for the two of you.
At this next point you must feel extreamly upset and you must feel like your life is ruined, I would like you to show this by looking at the floor and for you to start crying, especially when Capulet says to the nurse, "Peace, you mumbling fool!" You must feel bad as Capulet is being overpowering towards Nurse.
When Capulet is about to leave the room you must quickly look at him with a nervous expresion on your face "To answer I'll not wed, I can not love;" You must look and have a nervous tone in your voice here as you are regreting what you said and you think that he will do more than shout at you.
As this version of Romeo and Juliet is in a modern day theatrr the lighting will be very important to the whole play. The lighting will be focused on the characher who is saying the lines and in this scene when Capulet is getting angry thr lights will be a warm orange colour to make him seem like his anger is filling up the room.
I hope these notes will help to improve you understanding of the scene, you will feel confident when you are acting this paticular part of the play and you now have greater knowlage of how I want this scene acted.