1590: 90% went to theatre. 2000: less than 5%
1590: men acted no women were allowed
1590: people were allowed to throw things on stage
The two families are called Montague’s and the capulats.the story lies in the streets of Verona.
I would make the feud relevant to the modern audience by making the accents of the capulats Scottish and the Montague’s English.
On stage I would make the caplets wear black and the Montague’s wear white. This will show that they both hate each other and that they are complete different, and that they have nothing in common apart from they are both rich and wealthy and popular.
I would make my play modern by keeping the original set simple and as close to the Shakespeare as possible. I would make suttee changes such as trap doors so people can appear on stage quickly and suddenly for the fighting scene. I would have the fight in the different parts of the audience to give it some real effects because this is the most action packed point of the scene .I would have a spot of light on the two main characters and low lighting in different areas showing the different fight that have broken out in other areas. Another thing I would do is when Merctio dies I would have him die with his body sliding down a pillar, his head hanging over the edge of the stage looking into the audience saying his last words for the ultimate dramatic effect.
To bring this play to the 20th century will be quite difficult, so I have to make subtle but noticeable changes.
E.g. Instead of swords I would have guns but their brand names would be sword so when they draw they would say draw out your sword (which actually they mean gun) this would relate the original Shakespearean text.
I would use the sound as to help with the background and to help with the mood what the scene is relating to at the moment in time.eg. when the fight between is happening between romeo and mecutio I would use a fast beat as the sound of my background because the audience don’t want romeo to die or have mecutio to be the second person to die on the streets.
At the beginning of the scene tybalt is in a rampage because of Romeo marrying juilet. At the end of the scene he is dead. The audience will feel for tybalt. Tybalt with enter the scene thought a trap door shouting and when he dies he will exit the scene by a coffin.
Tybalt: leather jacket, leather trousers. Two guns under his jacket. Leather shoes with metal heals.1 ring on his finger saying Capulet.
Romeo: opened shirt. Jeans with a leather belt and sandals. And 1 gun clipped with his belt.
Mecutio: jeans, belt with 2 guns, no t-shirt.
Benvolio :three quarter length trousers. With a t-shirt.
Romeo: he will act calm and cool but at the same time a bit scared.
Tybalt: he will act dangerous and will be unafraid of nothink.
Benvoilo: he’s acts as thought he’s walking in the park on a quiet day.
Mecutio: he will act carm.
Overall I think to bring the play in the 21st would take a lot of hard work and lots of changes. When it is finished I think it would be worth it and it will be a big hit with the audience. All my changes with be suttee but oviouis.eg .as I said earlier about the guns.
