A crucial part of the scene is the setting. I have decided upon setting the scene in Juliet’s bedroom, her bedroom would be plain but very elegant, with cream walls and a four poster bed and the curtains blowing softly in the wind. At the beginning of the scene the room will seem calm and relaxed, which will contrast with the events to follow. This will add to the trension because the audience will believe that this a relaxed calm scene and will not be expecting what happens next.
Lighting will be soft and natural to begin with, subtly focused on Capulet with the obviousness of the spotlight increasing gradually as Capulet’s mood changes for the worst. Which is when the spotlight will form a clear circle around him with a dark shadow forming gradually as the lighting changes. This will clarify the changes in Capulets’ mood, he goes from calm and reasonably happy to extreme anger, and the lighting will also enhance his anger making the atmosphere very tense.
Sound effects will also enhance with change of atmosphere on the stage. At the beginning of the scene birds will be singing faintly in the background, to match Juliet’s high spirits after spending the night with her husband. As Lady Capulet says her final lines, ‘Talk to me not, for I’ll not speak a word. Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee’ –Line 202, the birds will stop singing sharply, therefore the audience’s focus will be on the impact of what has been said.
When Juliet speaks to her father, ‘Not proud you have, but thankful that you have: Proud can I never be of what I hate, But thankful even for hate that is meant love.’ Line 149, she will would have a confident – yet not over confident, tone of voice. She would be calm and keep eye contact with her father at all times. Thus giving the impression she will not back down and give in to her fathers wishes and marry Paris, therefore leaving the audience in suspense.
Capulets is in a cheerful, happy mood and full of pride in the opening lines of the scene, ‘How now, wife, have you delivered to her our decree?’ line 137. But his smile falls from his face, ‘Ay sir, but she will none’ line 139, to be replaced by a look of shock and anger upon hearing of his daughter refusal to wed Paris.
Lady Capulet is a minor character in this scene but body language, tone of voice and facial expressions can add so much tension to a scene. To begin with she would be dreading telling Capulet and ashamed her daughter would behave in such a way, ‘I would the fool were married to her grave,’ line 140. Then she would be embarrassed that Capulet is over reacting this way and quite angry speaking in a loud tone ‘Fie, fie, what are you mad?’ line 158. Then as it becomes obvious Juliet will not back down Lady Capulet has had enough, she is tired of her daughter refusing to do as she is told and wishes she had nothing to do with her. ‘Talk not to me, for I’ll not speak a word, Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee.’ Line 202 Thorough out the performance Lady Capulet would also use body language in order her display her thoughts and emotions, when she is ashamed she would cover her face with her hand, giving the idea that she cannot bear to look anymore. Yet when she is angry, whilst talking to Juliet she would use her hands a lot, pointing them at her, emphasising certain words.
All these techniques combined give a dramatically tense performance, leaving an impact on the audience making them gripped and genuinely interested in the plot and what will happen next. What will Caplet do? and How will Juliet cope?
