At the start of the scene Benvolio ‘the peace maker’ is afraid that something is going to happen, “let’s retire. The day is hot, the Capulet’s abroad” as in the actual play when he speaks to Mecutio asking him to retire or go away. He also makes a point that hot weather creates riots “these hot days, is mad blood stirring.” To show Benvolio’s fear I would show tension on his face and him scratching his head which will show him desperate to get out of the situation. After that Mercutio pokes fun at Benvolio in a dead pan way that he is getting afraid of the dual to happen between Romeo and Tybalt. To show this I would make the character playing Mercutio to keep a smirk on his face but also say the joke as if he is serious to emphasise the point that the joke was said in a dead pan way. Benvolio takes the joke seriously “Am I like such a fellow?” to show this I would show Benvolio’s face as if he is hurt and him also speaking in such a way as if he never expected Mercutio to poke fun as his thoughts. Mercutio realises that he has made Benvolio angry by the joke he said so he says an ironic joke “come, come thou art as a hot a jack in thy mood…and as soon moved to be moody”. To show that Mercutio is trying to change the mood I would show he face with laughter and also him trying to get Benvolio back into the mood.
Now there is a change in atmosphere as Benvolio notices that the Capulets are coming “By my head here come the Capulets” I would make Benvolio say this as if he scared and to show this I would show sweat running down his face, him biting his nails and I’ll also use some music e.g. drum beats to emphasise that the situation has got more serious. Mercutio ignores Benvolio and say’s “by my heel I care not” to show that Mercutio does not care about the Capulets. I would show him having a calm face and looking face to face with the Capulets. On the background I’ll have no music to build tension and make the audience aware that danger is coming.
Tybalt comes into the scene at this point looking for Romeo “follow me close………..Gentleman good den a word with one of you” Tybalt start off politely, the historical context behind this is before every dual in the time the play was made you had to be polite, and in a dual you weren’t not suppose to kill the other person in the dual. I would make Tybalt say these lines in a calm way so it is not obvious that he is looking for Romeo for a dual and also to keep a good face in society. Mercutio make a joke out of what Tybalt has said “……couple it with something; make it a word and a blow” I would make Mercutio say this in a teasing way and make him laugh at Tybalt as if he is trying to provoke him. Tybalt would be keeping restraint because he does not want to get in a dual with Mercutio but he wants to fight Romeo but he also threatens Mercutio “You shall find me…sir, an you will give me an occasion” The I would make Tybalt say these line would be him saying this in a calm way but also showing a angry face. Mercutio starts to provoke him by insulting him and also threatens him back “….look to hear nothing but discord: here’s my fiddle stick; here’s that shall make you dance” To make this look insulting and threatening I would make Mercutio put a sword up to Tybalt’s face and him also laughing to show that he is insulting him. Benvolio tries to calm things down “We talk here in the public haunt for men …….or else depart; here all eyes gaze on us” I would make the character playing Benvolio say this as if he is scared and him desperate to calm things down. Mercutio answers Benvolio “Men’s eyes were made to look, and let them gaze; I will not budge for no man’s pleasure, I” This tells us another thing about Mercutio character he is a person that refuses to back out of a situation. I would make the character playing Mercutio say this as if he is not interested in what Benvolio has said.
At this point in the scene Romeo comes in. Tybalt spots Romeo in the play and it is a chance for him to get out of the situation with Mercutio. Tybalt “Well, peace be with you sir here comes my man” Mercutio also allows him to go and fight Romeo and expects Romeo to win the dual as we know about Romeo’s character that he has a lot of trust in Romeo “But I’ll be hanged sir……Marry go before to field, he’ll be your follower”
Now Tybalt starts by deliberately insulting Romeo “Romeo, the hate I bear……..thou art villain”I would make the charcter playing Tybalt say this in a angry and insulting way and him also pointing his sword at him to make him aware that he is provoking him to a fight. Romeo is angry and also hurt by the comments of Tybalt but he has to keep calm “Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee Doth much excuse the appertaining rage to such greeting: villain am I none” I would make the character playing Romeo to look as if he is hurt and angry but him also being restrained because he does not want to start a fight with Tybalt. I would also show Mercutio reactions to what Romeo has said and I would show the character playing Mercutio being shocked and angry because he did not expect Romeo to do that.Tybalt in return shows outrage toward Romeo because he thinks that he is trying to insult him from what he has said “Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries That thou hast done me” would show anger in the eyes of the character playing Tybalt and his face all red to show what Romeo has said has made him more angry. Mercutio gets angry and Tybalt and also he cannot see Romeo getting dishonoured “O calm, dishonoured, vile submission!” “Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk” This shows that he has a lot of Platonic love towards Romeo. This bit also refects the theme of love throughout the play. A true hearted love that Romeo has with Juliet and the platonic (friendly) you would have with a close friend and family. I would make the character playing Mercutio say this looking at Romeo that he is not happy that Romeo has broken the faith that he had in him and pointing his sword at Tybalt if he is provoking him to a fight. Tybalt replies to acceptance to Mercutio invitation to a fight.
The situation has now become more sinister, the tension has escalated. Tybalt asks to start the fight “I am for you”. While the two characters are fighting I will have drum beats on the background and when Mercutio gets stabbed below Romeo arms I will have a sudden stop in music. Then I will have the character playing Mercutio say his lines “I am hurt, A plague o ‘both you house! And he repeating these lines to emphasise the point that he is blaming Romeo for his death
At this point in the play there is no comedy from this point there is all tragedy. So I will use beats to emphasise that the mood of the play.