Mercutio would be wearing bright colours, but still looking sophisticated because of his relation to the prince. He would have to stand out from the rest of the characters on stage because he is often the centre of attention.
I would begin the scene with bright lighting, to make it seem like a “hot” day as previously described by Benvolio (act3/scene/1line2).
As the mood intensifies the lights would gradually dim down, enhancing the building tension.
When Romeo enters I would create an ominous feeling in the audience by introducing soft thunder in the background. The thunder should start as a low rumble in the distance at first, but should slowly get louder, indicating the beginning of a storm, both in the weather and with the characters.
By installing a sprinkler system in the ceiling of the theatre I would use
Real water to create rain. The dim lights shining through a fine
spray would strongly enhance the desperation that Romeo feels at the
end of the scene. A little water falling onto the front rows of the audience
would help them to relate to the play.
At the beginning of the scene Mercutio should reply to Benvolio’s
warning about the Capulets in a quiet yet confident voice, like he already
anticipates a fight. Benvolio now falls back into the shadows, his voice of
reason no longer affecting the actions of his friends.
When Tybalt speaks for the first time he should use threatening tones to
add to the tension his presence already creates in the audience. Mercutio,
despite the circumstances displays his lighthearted nature. The actor
should speak in a mocking voice, tauntingly circling Tybalt who should
react with restrained anger, clenched fists and a hand on his sword.
Mercutcio continues this, ignoring benvolios vain attempts at keeping the
peace, until Romeo enters from the corner of the stage. With his entrance
Tybalt finally breaks out of Mercutcios circle to face Romeo. He should
say the line “here comes my man” slowly and menacingly to make the
audience wonder what will happen next.
Romeo should seem dreamy, almost unaware of the tense atmosphere around him, and so would appear isolated from the rest of the characters on stage. Having just married Juliet, Romeo should seem somewhat detached and tells Tybalt “The reason that I have to love thee doth much excuse the appertaining rage to such a greeting” The dramatic Irony in
these lines greatly increases the suspense in the audience, who already know that Romeo is married to Juliet and that Tybalt is unaware. They will also feel for Romeo, who has so far been portrayed as “pure” and “holy” and would be waiting to see how he reacts to Tybalts insults
Romeos calmness and soft speech would make it even more shocking when at last his mood changes abruptly to pain and sadness, then anger as he turns against Tybalt and kills him.
Mercutio, who is frustrated by Romeos lack of will, draws his sword in his name.
Mercutio should hiss the line “oh calm, vile, dishonourable submission” quietly, but so the audience can still clearly make out his words.
He should then address Tybalt with a more vicious tone signalling that a fight is about to begin.
When Tybalt and Mercutio fight, the actors should move quickly and smoothly, with the exception of Romeo who frantically tries to intercept the fighting couple. I would aim to create an atmosphere of confusion, so the attention of the audience wouldn’t be drawn to any particular character or point until Mercutio breaks free from the battle with blood on his clothes. The fight will be explained later by Benvolio (lines153-175) so the audience would still understand the events that happen in the scene.
After Tybalt exits the stage, I would have a spotlight over mercutio who has been fatally wounded. The actor should keep the wound covered until Mercutio says the line “no tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church door;” Romeo and Benvolios initial reactions “the hurt can not be much” would increase the shock when Mercutio reveals the blood on his clothes.
While Mercutio is dying, the other characters on the stage should speak quietly, to further draw attention to mercutio.
Mercutio should at first speak a little louder than Romeo and Benvolio, getting louder until his final repetition of “a plague o both your houses” which he should shout, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.
Mercutio should speak fervently, with these words spoken clearly to draw attention to them and create dramatic impact.
Romeo who is dressed in white would advance to kneel next to his friend, staining his clothes with Mercutios blood. This would be a powerful image, because it represents purity being tainted. It is at this point in the play that the audience know that the tragedy begins, as the death of Mercutio takes the humour out of the play.
Benvolio would then lead the Weakening Mercutio off the stage leaving Romeo alone in the spotlight.
While Romeo is alone on stage, I would build up a tense atmosphere in the audience by having the actor speak softly and slowly, his body language reflecting his tone of voice. But the tension would increase as the actor speaks faster and more harshly, signalling that he has now acknowledged the cause of Mercutios death, and that if he hadn’t been so in love with Juliet Mercutio would not have fought Tybalt.
He should say the line “O sweet Juliet! Thy beauty hath made me effeminate, and in my temper soften’d valour’s steel” angrily, illustrating his love for Juliet, and that he no longer feels obliged to love Tybalt as a cousin after what he has done.
Benvolio enters from the corner of the stage, with a little of mercutios blood on his hands reminding the audience of the fatal wound.
The line “O Romeo, Romeo! Brave Mercutio is dead” would not have as much dramatic impact on the audience, as the lines “Which too untimely here did scorn the earth.” And “This days black fate on mo days doth depend; this but begins the woe others must end,” which echo the prologue (“fated” and “star crossed”), making the audience anticipate the events that they know are destined to happen.
With the entrance of Tybalt, the anger Romeo feels and the tension in the audience should reach its peak, as Tybalt rushes in angrily wielding his sword looking “furious” and “fiery”. Romeo should now address Tybalt coldly, and draws his sword quickly, to show that he is now determined to kill Tybalt and avenge the death of his friend.
I would have Romeo and Tybalt in the centre of the stage, with a strong spotlight following them as they fight, casting shadows, which would greatly enhance the anger and sadness the characters feel.
Tybalt should be killed quickly, with none of the confusion in Mercutios death, to reinforce Romeos determination.
When Tybalt is down, Romeo should kneel on the floor, his clothes now covered with both Mercutios and Tybalts blood.
In his despair, he ignores Benvolio, who warns him about “the Citizens” and the scene ends with him alone in the bright spotlight, when he cries “oh I am Fortunes fool”, directed at the audience, rather than Benvolio, once again echoing the theme of fate, as in the prologue and the visions both Romeo and Juliet have before this scene
