The play Romeo and Juliet is set in Verona, Italy. In act 3 Scene 5 though you do not see Verona as it is all set in Juliet’s bedroom. If I was to create Juliet’s bedroom on stage I would have a large double bed in the middle. I would put white sheets on the bed. I would also have a small bedside cabinet beside the bed. The cabinet would be wooden with a few assorted pieces of jewellery on top. Lastly I would drape thin white curtains to the side of the stage indicating the window in which Romeo escapes.
The first action in the scene is Romeo and Juliet in bed together. Juliet should be wearing a white night gown while Romeo has his body covered under the sheets. Romeo and Juliet should be close to each other to emphasise their love for another.
When the nurse enters Juliet’s bedroom she announces:
“Your lady mother is coming to your chamber. The day is broke, be wary, look about.”
The nurse should say this in a rushed, panicked voice as she knows of Romeo and Juliet’s secret relationship. Her face should be looking directly at Juliet with rosy cheeks and a very alert look.
I think at this point the lighting should be of a consistent brightness across the stage. This is because it is early morning and the sun would have risen outside.
When the nurse does alert the couple they become more alive and Romeo starts to get dressed. When Romeo and Juliet begin to say their farewells at the window there should be a bright spotlight on them.
They should both be looking at each other and smiling in a really loving way. When Romeo speaks his final words from the scene:
“Adieu Adieu”
He should be holding on loosely to Juliet’s hand as he begins to escape from the building. Juliet should then turn away crying as she slumps into her bed.
After this very suddenly Lady Capulet should pace onto the stage with a bright spotlight on her and sit on the edge of Juliet’s bed. Juliet should have her face down on the pillow and be trying to avoid all eye contact with her mother.
When Lady Capulet says:
“Why how now, Juliet?”
Juliet should glance up at her mother with a sad face. Juliet should then slowly raise herself up and begin to wipe the tears from her face.
When Lady Capulet notices Juliet is very upset she should hug her daughter and act very sympathetic towards her. Lady Capulet assumes that Juliet is upset about Tybalt's, Juliet’s cousin, death. Juliet will embrace her mother as if her mother knew about Romeo. The real reason why Juliet is upset.
When Lady Capulet says:
“But now I’ll tell thee joyful tidings, girl”
She should begin to get off Juliet’s bed and stand up. As she says this the tone of her voice should change to a happier, more upbeat tone.
As Lady Capulet builds up to telling Juliet of the marriage, Juliet should be looking up at her mother intrigued as to what the happy news could be.
When Lady Capulet finally announces:
“Marry, my child, early next Thursday morn. The gallant, young and noble gentlemen, the county Paris”
Juliet should sit back on her bed with a clear look of worry on her face. She is worried because she has already married Romeo.
When Juliet disagrees with her mother she should speak quickly and loudly to emphasise her un-willingness to marry Paris. Lady Capulet is taken back by this and should display a puzzled face.
Just after Juliet says this there should be a loud banging of doors in the background. Simultaneously there should be a flash of lights on the stage. This shows the audience that somebody of high authority is coming.
When Capulet does enter he should walk on in large strides and hands on hips. Although his actions show authority the way he walks onto stage should show the aggression inside him. . Lady Capulet and Juliet should both look up at Capulet and give him their full attention. When they look up at Capulet they should also have a scared appearance as they are aware of his violence n aggression. By their facial expressions it should also convey these thoughts to the audience. Although at the point in which Capulet walks in he is not angry he still has a high level of authority within the Capulet family.
As Lady Capulet tells Capulet that Juliet does not want to marry his eyes should light up in anger. At this point in time there should be a real difference between his facial expressions and his voice. There should be a real contrast in his behaviour as soon as he understands that Juliet does not want to marry the County Paris. As he begins to ask why, he should have a raised voice and be staring directly at Juliet. When Capulet says:
“Out, you green-sickness carion! Out, you baggage! You tallow-face!”
He should be reaching the height of his anger and be shouting quite loudly at Juliet. I think at this point in time Capulet and Lady Capulet should be feeling a mixture of emotions as well as anger. They would be feeling puzzled as to why Juliet did not want to take what they see as a good opportunity. They would also feel shocked to Juliet’s reaction.
Juliet should react shocked and upset by her father’s anger. I think that when Juliet begs:
“I beseech you on my knees”
She should slump down on her knees and ferociously tug up at her father’s top. The lighting should be a dark red at this point to represent anger, rage and love.
When the nurse tries to defend Juliet she is acting very brave. At this point there should be a bright spotlight on her. However when Capulet snaps back at the nurse she should kind of withdraw herself from the conversation again. She does this because otherwise she could lose her job.
When Capulet gives Juliet an ultimatum and says his final words of the scene he should give a long hard look at Juliet before he walks off. As he walks off there should be the noise of slamming doors and stamping on stage to show Capulets bad mood.
I think at this point Juliet should look up at her mother for advice but when her mum denies her it Juliet turns to the nurse.
With the nurse knowing everything she advises Juliet to marry the County Paris. I think deep down the nurse realises it was wrong of Juliet to marry Romeo so suddenly and secretly but is trying to support Juliet as much as she can. By the end of the scene Juliet feels increasingly trapped not only by her parents’ threats but also by her religion.
At the end of the scene when Juliet says her last words:
“If all else fail, myself have power to die”
She should be looking deep into the audience and then just run off the stage. At this point the nurse should gaze around the stage confused and then she too, walk off the stage.
