I have been assigned the task of writing a set of director's notes for each of the characters playing Romeo, Juliet, Tybalt and Lord Capulet during Act1 Scene 5.

Romeo and Juliet Assignment

I have been assigned the task of writing a set of director's notes for each of the characters playing Romeo, Juliet, Tybalt and Lord Capulet during Act1 Scene 5. I am to try to explore the characters being played, their relationships and how their actions during the scene affect the rest of the play.

Act1 scene5 is the scene where Romeo and Juliet meet. In spite of the play’s title this is one of only a few scenes in which both Romeo and Juliet are present.

Shakespeare prepares for this scene by showing Romeo’s infatuation with Rosaline. She is the niece of Capulet and on the guest list, but she never appears in the play. Benvolio is Romeo’s best friend and has promised to find Romeo a more attractive girl at the party.

Juliet is there as Capulet wishes to give Count Paris a chance to meet her. This is the main reason for the party.

Capulet's speech to Paris in Act1 Scene 5 suggests that Juliet has not been out of the house much, only perhaps to confession and worship. This maybe why only Paris (a family friend) has noticed her and Romeo has no idea who she is.

Immediately before this scene Romeo has spoken of a fear that some terrible “consequence yet hanging in the stars” shall begin at “this night’s revels” (the party). Because of the prologue the audience have some idea of what will happen,

“A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life;

Whose misadventur’d piteous overthrows

Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife”

They know this fear is more than just notional even before the scene. Tybalt's behavior has also been prepared for by the brawl in the plays first scene.

In this scene a number of things happen;

Servants frantically make preparations for the ball. It is a short, hectic episode in which the audience are given a snapshot of life below stairs. Its dramatic effect is to echo both the tensions, which have been building up, as well as portray those, which are to come. Just as the plays first scene beings with the servants voicing the antagonisms between their masters so Act 1 Scene 5begins with these lower class citizens reflecting the concerns of those leading.

At this point the atmosphere is tense

Capulet warmly welcomes his guests. He is aware of Romeo’s presence but doesn’t seem to mind. This is a contrast to his personality. When we meet him in the first scene of the play he seems only too willing to take part in the brawl, and the less reasonable of Montague and himself.

Here the atmosphere is more relaxed but the audience are still in a state of anticipation.

Tybalt spots Romeo and is outraged at him gate crashing his uncles party. Seeing it his place to uphold the family honor he immediately calls for his sword and wishes to fight Romeo. Lord Capulet forbids him to do so.

It is now that Romeos fear is realized by the audience and the tension grows higher.

However, Romeo, throughout the scene, is unaware of this atmosphere.

Romeo and Juliet meet, the audience know this will happen before it does. This is a longer part of the scene. This has the form of a sonnet (a rhyming fourteen line poem), which many of the 16th century audience would notice, as they heard the pattern of rhymes. This section is fillet with poetic and tender speech and we see Romeo’s opinion of love greatly mature from his infatuation of Rosaline.

Throughout the scene, the mood has altered dramatically, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats.

I am focusing on the Characters Romeo, Tybalt, Juliet and Capulet

Romeo – Romeo Is the only son of lord Montague, he is a very complex character, intelligent, handsome, and sensitive as well as charming and well regarded, even by lord Capulet.

When Romeo gate crashes the Capulet party, Tybalt informs his uncle that he will take care of Romeo, but Capulet tells Tybalt to leave him alone as he has heard only good thins about Romeo, “And ...

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Throughout the scene, the mood has altered dramatically, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats.

I am focusing on the Characters Romeo, Tybalt, Juliet and Capulet

Romeo – Romeo Is the only son of lord Montague, he is a very complex character, intelligent, handsome, and sensitive as well as charming and well regarded, even by lord Capulet.

Romeo’s emotions run very strong throughout the play. He is a passionate lover, though sometimes whimsical. When we first meet him he is pining for Rosaline. In Act 1 Scene 1 he proclaims her the paragon of women and is distraught at her indifference to him.

His language is very poetic, and this is how he thinks love to be. The instant he sees Juliet, he forgets Rosaline, and falls deeply in love with her. It’s here that we see Romeos attitude to love become more mature and true.

As the relationship between him and Juliet gets more intense love is not the only deep emotion. He feels anger, which compels him to avenge Mercutsio's death. In addition, there is despair, which drives him to suicide when he thinks his true love Juliet is dead.

Juliet – Juliet is Capulet's only daughter. In the beginning of the play she is, immature, and seems an obedient, naïve child. This is seen when her mother talks to her about marrying Paris, she tells her mother that she has not thought about marriage but is it’s what her mother wants then she will try to love Paris.

“It is an honor that I dream not of”, “what say you can you love the gentleman?; “I’ll look to like, if liking move. But no more deep will I endart mine eye than you consent gives me strength to make it fly”

Unlike Romeo, She is level headed and criticizes him for his rashness and romanticism.

Capulet – Head of the Capulet household, thus he is a greatly respected figure within it. Although at the head of his house and so, you might think one of those at the heart of the feud, he seems very passive; when he thinks nothing of allowing his enemies son, Romeo, to gatecrash his ball.

Yet at times we see another side to his character, one which is short to temper; Act 1 Scene 5 when he scorns Tybalt when he wants to fight Romeo, “You are a saucy boy, Be quiet or for shame! I’ll make you quiet”.

His aggression seems fueled by the contempt shown to his family by the other, and a want for the feud to end, rather than an unprovoked hatred of the Montagues.

This attitude however comes across less strongly in Act 1 Scene 1, when Capulet is more than happy to take part in the brawl. His behavior here is provoked by Montague’s already drawn sword; “My sword I say! Old Montague is come, and flourishes his blade in spite of me”.

Later on in Act 1 Scene 5 Capulet says he wouldn’t disparage Romeo “for all the wealth in Verona” given that Romeo had done him no harm and was renowned to be “virtuous and well governed”.

Capulet here shows that his dislike for the Montague family is not because they are the Montague family but because of their actions. I don’t think he approves of members of his family playing part in the brawl but accepts that they will if goaded.

Tybalt – Tybalt is Lord Capulet’s nephew, he is a fairly young man. Tybalt is supremely aware of courtesy, and a lack of it. He is a distinguished swordsman and doesn’t hesitate to resort to using this ability whenever the occasion arises, “fetch me my rapier boy”, he announces, on seeing Romeo at his uncles ball. Tybalt is an extremely aggressive character and sees it his place to uphold the family honour which is reflected in his manor of speech when referring to Romeo; “What dares the slave come hither, covered with an antic face, to fleer and scorn at our solemnity?”, he feels Romeo has come to make a mockery of the Capulet household. Tybalts speech is also contains connotations of death “patience perforce with willful cholera meeting”, “ His behavior toward Romeo has been prepared for by the brawl in the first scene.

Stage Directions

These are for the actors playing Romeo, Juliet, Tybalt and Capulet and are in order of the scene.

Capulet as he greets his guests

We know Capulet is a powerful and respected figure, he is generally passive as we see later when he dismisses Tybalt’s complaint about Romeo gate crashing the ball as he is a “virtuous and well governed youth”. We also see an aggressive and quick tempered side to Capulet, when straight after he scornes Tybalt “You are a saucy boy, Be quiet or for shame! I’ll make you quiet”. It is because of this that guests greeting him should be polite and receptive to courtesy, almost relaxed but not completely. They might show signs of this by paying the old man much respect even compliments. It would be wise to remain in his good books.

In the center of the stage should be a set of steps leading up to a large, open doorway. Through it stands Capulet smartly dressed. He should smile and warmly greet guests, mingling in between conversations every now and then, with a look of interest. Capulet, although talking to different groups of people should stay fixed around the left of the doorway. Capulet’s face should light up with enthusiasm as he heartily speaks the line “Welcome gentlemen”. His body language should give a welcoming impression, for instance it would be good for Capulet to merrily shake the hands of some of his better-known guests. Throughout this section Capulet’s body language and manor of speech must make him seem a charismatic and warm host.

Romeo as he spots Juliet for the first time

It is in this scene that Romeo and Juliet first set eyes on each other, each should seem entranced and it should be obvious the two are soon to fall in love but the audience will also know, due to the prologue a tragedy will eventually happen.

Romeo should be engaged in conversation with friends. He should be wearing a mask across his eyes. When he spots Juliet he should break off from talking with his friends into a trance like stare as he first sees Juliet across the room. “What lady’s that which doth enrich the hand of yonder knight?”, Romeo asks a passing serving man without so much as making eye contact with him.

Romeo should slowly pull down his mask, still with eyes fixed in awe at Juliet’s beauty. Seeming not to take note of the servant’s reply Romeo softly and concisely begins to speak.

“O she doth teach the torches to burn bright”
“It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night”
“Did my heart love till now? Forswear it sight”
“For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night”

“O” Romeo exclaims this shows the depth of his emotions, he says Juliet is so stunning she is the focal point of the room and even more bright than the flaming torches.
He uses a metaphor that Juliet is a jewel
He questions his past feelings for Rosaline
He says with thought he has never seen true beauty until this evening.

Romeos language is very poetic and ornate, and so must be the way he expresses himself.

The following describes important parts of the scene in chronological order.

Tybalts reaction to Romeos presence has already been called for in the lsst scene of the play.

Tybalt hears Romeo as he speaks of the lady Juliet and recognizes him to be a Montague. He should march past Capulet, enraged at Romeos presence as he speaks “…now by stock and honour of my kin, to strike him dead I hold it not a sin”. His voice should be dry and screechy and he should be frowning, with his head slightly down and looking forward.

Capulet catches sight of Tybalt from the corner of his eye and turns around. “Why how now kinsman, wherefore storm you so?” Capulet asks with empathy and a sympathetic expression on his face.

“Tis he, that villain Romeo” Tybalt hisses as he eyes out Romeo aggressively. Capulet continues trying to calm Tybalt down in a collected fashion but fails to maintain his composure and shouts Tybalt down. “You are a princox, go; be, quiet or for shame! I’ll make you quiet”. Capulet is trying to speak to guests at the same time and perhaps feels shamed by the scene Tybalt is making in front of them. Capulet should turn as he talks to Tybalt, he is trying to keep the balance between displaying anger in front of his guests and getting his say through to Tybalt. With intent to speak angrily, yet discretely, Capulet should smile and turn from his guests. He then stands directly beside Tybalt and grasps his arm firmly, drawing Tybalt towards him. Capulet’s face pinkens, as he speaks, his teeth are gritted and he spits slightly as he speaks. His voice should loaden as he scorns Tybalt. Tybalt faces his uncle. Violently he tugs his arm away from Capulets grasp, “I shall withdraw, but this intrusion shall, now seeming sweet, convert to bitterest gall” is spoken closely followed by him storming out of the room.

Juliet should be dancing as Romeo approaches her. He dances at a distance and passes numerous glances at her. Juliet looks back at Romeo and for one moment, they hold eye contact, before the nature of the dance prevents them from doing so. Romeo disappears for several moments much to Juliet’s dismay. Juliet’s smiling face drops and she begins looking around the room to see where Romeo has gone. It is here that the dance ends and Paris, the man whom she danced with, gently kisses her hand and heads across to room to talk to Capulet. Juliet leans against a pillar still searching the room for Romeo.

Suddenly, from the other side of the pillar Romeo steps out also surveying the room. As he does the two stop. Romeo begins to speak; “If I profane with my unworthiest hand this holy shrine, the gentle sin is this, my lips two blushing pilgrims ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss”.

Romeos voice should be soft and gentle and as he says “my unworthiest hand”. He should look down at his hand then slowly back up at Juliet. As he finishes his sentence on the word “kiss” he should tenderly lean down, maintaining eye contact until the very last point, and lightly kiss her hand.

This cautious yet confident body language should continue throughout their meeting.

At the end of the scene, both Romeo and Juliet discover the identity of the other. Their reactions are similar. Romeo asks the nurse who Juliet’s mother is after the Nurse informs Juliet a word is “craved”. Upon discovering the identity of Juliet Romeo’s expression should change similar to that of the first scene. He should again have his eyes longingly fixed on Juliet but also have a shaken look of disbelief about him. “my life is in my foes debt” Romeo finds it hard to comprehend that the one he Loves so much could possibly be his enemy. Throughout this section, expressions on both the faces of Romeo and Juliet should be similar. Juliet is equally distraught at the prospect of her true Love being her sworn enemy.

“My only love sprung from my only hate

To early seen unknown and known too late

Prodigious birth of love it is to me,

That I must love a loathed enemy”

While she says this Juliet must look longingly upward as if toward the skies and shake her head slowly at the final line. At the same time a quiet sigh of disbelief and a head hung should end this sentence.

Romeo and Juliet each come from families with a deep hatred of one and other, the audience are aware of this because of the prologue. It is this scene when they both meet, and to begin an atmosphere of great hope for the two lovers. But no sooner do the audience become aware of this “star-crossed” love, they are reminded of the looming fate Romeo and Juliet are to suffer. This comes in the form of Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin as he displays the very essence of the hatred between the two families. This uplift of hope for Romeo and Juliet is ever set down by the audiences knowledge of the tragic nature of the play. The audience already know Romeo and Juliet will fall in love, they also know further events mentioned in the prologue. This is a first step of these events unraveling.