However this is different compared to Baz Luhrman play, Luhrman engages his audiance by the use of modern technology, such as sound effects and special effects such as lightings. The prologue at the beginning of the play starts off with a reporter introducing us about the two households, the phrase “star cross’d lovers” is very effective because the television acts as a framing device, and on top of that, we have to trust it because its one of the most trusted source of information. This therefore indicates, that the news is well known. Baz also chooses a black woman to indicate to the audience that the society was not racist, so he uses a multinational women to indicate to the audience that it is in the modern society.This is different compared to Shakespere’s play because in the Elizibethan periods, women were not allowed to act in plays and non-English characters were often presented stereotypically.
Baz’s play starts off on the road with an establishing shot, which in turn sets the scene for the rest of the film. It then countinues and the tension is increased due to the petrol station, which is introduced. The petrol station is used to symbolise the potential for danger between the two houses. Baz again increases the tension by using a slow motion close up shot of the cigarette falling on to the floor. This is again backed up with the exaguration of sound effects which creates an explosion. The explostion is a metaphor for the escalation of the ‘mutiny’. The use of the sign “Add more fuel to your fire” sugests more rage between the two households and also reminds the viewer of the dangers of the explostion. Shots of the city were also used to show how the violence has spread through out the city, this therefore signifies the problem is a public matter, and not simply a private family dispute This is again made factual and realistic by using documentary – style shots. The use of these styles and shots make the idea more accessible to a modern audience.
Shakespeare chose to open this play with this comic scene because he wants to make sure he captures the audience’s attention right from the beginning. Shakespeare would likely be aiming to get more attention of the groundlings than the highly educated people because the groundlings were much harder to satisfy and were not that educated, so they would not likely understand some of his jokes. Unlike the theatre today, his audience had a wide range of social and educational levels and was about as wide as it could be. Shakespeare’s audience for his plays was the very rich, the upper middle class, and the groundlings. The groundlings paid a penny to watch the play where they stood on the ground, with the stage more or less at eye level. The upper middle class paid two pennies for entrance to the galleries, covered seating at the sides; the rich paid three pennies to sit in the higher galleries, which had a better view. The best seats were in the lords’ rooms, private galleries closest to the stage.
Today, we have a lot of entertainment to choose from such as television and movies, now as the technology expands the audiances become harder to satisfy. Modern audiences, require many more visual and sound effects in order to be entertained unlike in the Elizabethan period. In the theatres today audiences are all seated in rows and everyone is equal, however there are gold classes and emperor seats which are a bit more expensive than the normal seats, but they still do not signify that you are higher in rank.
Baz Luhrman had more of an advantage of technology than Shakespeare. Therefore, Shakespeare’s stagecraft techniques, such as sound effects, special effects; lightings were not available which meant some of his ideas could not be fully expressed in this play due to these limiting factors. Due to this Shakespeare had to focus primarily on his speech’s value. Whereas Luhrman has advanced equipment and technology, which also means he has more of an opportunity to engage greater levels of the audience’s attention. Shakespeare, however had sounds to make the play sound intresting and romantic, as it had to represent the love between Romeo and Juliet, this was done by using different styles of music to represent the status or mood of the character. For example if the theme is love, Shakespere would likely be having a slow soft song, however Baz uses the sound to distinguish the 2 households, this is shown in the beginning of the play when the music used for the capulets are Western ‘style’ – more sinister like type whereas the Montagues had upbeat and lively music. During the shoot out at the gas station the music changes to an opearatic style, suggesting the passionate emotion in the scene. Thematically the opera fits in well.
Baz presents the Montagues as informal people, laid back, playful and lacking a certain kind of maturity. They were dressed in Hawaian shirts and had a yellow car which was open.This therefore makes the audience feel more sympathetic towards them. However, in contrast to Shakespeares play the Capulets are more playful, as shown by the dialogue between Sampson and Gregory
The Capulets on the other hand are presented as very powerful men who represent the dark side, this is shown by their wealth and apperance, a certain kind of arrogance and ‘showing off’ is shown by their very formal clothes. They Capulets also dress up in black and also have a black car, which symbolises the ‘evil’ side.
Luhrmann likely chose to diffrentiate the two families because, it would help the audience understand the play and help them decide which side to go in favour on.
However older members of both families dress formally and similarly, therefore indicating the same status, mafia type of group, fame and opulence. This suggests lawlessness and the idea of family feud.
When the two Montague servants, Abram and Balthasar enter, there is comedy at first but tension slowly increases into arguments and then a violent fight takes place. The tension rises when Samson begins a brawl between the Montagues and Capulets; “Do you bite your thumb at you, sir, but I bite my thumb, sir……” This passage is humorous in the way even though you can feel the tension building up while Samson seems ready to step down. In those times, flicking your thumbnail behind you upper teeth was taken as an insulting gesture. The actual violence started when Gregory said “Do you quarrel, sir?” But when Benvolio enters the scene and says “Put up your swords, you know not what you do” they all stop and listen to him. It makes him look like a peacemaker and a high status person, because he can command them. The tension then is then reduced and things are almost back to normal until Tybalt, the prince of cats, arrives at the scene. The tension rises rapidly when Tybalt tries to pick a fight by saying”What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds? Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death” Tybalt’s role is basically to start a fight again, it seems like he is the opposite of Benvolio. Instead of preventing a fight he tries to pick a fight. Shakespeare chooses Tybalt’s words very well when he uses “heartless hinds…..look upon thy death……drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word, As I hate hell…” It just shows that Tybalt is a villain in the play and always thinks negatively. Unlike Benvolio who tries to calm things down by telling Tybalt to put his sword down, Tybalt still carries on and starts a fight. The introduction of Benvolio, Montague and Capulet is significant because it shows that Benvolio being their kings men shows that he has more respect and power over the others. It just shows and proves his higher status.
Tybalt is presented as a very violent character in both the movie and the play.The use of close up shots on his shoes, states his status, and makes him seem like a tough person, who has power. He is also dressed like a gang member, due to the colour he wears – black which symbolises evilness. His sharpened metal teeth gives him the cat look, Tybalt is also called “The Prince of Cats”. Tybalts voice says it all, it again states the evilness due to the low strong pitch..
Benvolio on the otherhand is presented very similarly to the play, as shown when he comes into the scene to stop the fight. Baz made Benvolio seem very nervous due to his face and his actions. Benvolio also has a higher status then everyone in the movie, and this is also emphasied by the use of guns instead of swords.
The entrance of the Prince to this anarchic scene marks another change in tone in the play because it just shows that he has all the political power and can command them to stop. The prince in this scene is like a Queen in the Elizabethan times, because of the way he commands and controls his city. The Queen also did not have anyone to pass on because she was a virgin.
Shakespeare has included the Prince in the scene, to show that people should realize what is going on, and if this continues, what will be the consequences. Shakespeare also foreshadows a war might happen, and actually did 50 years after – The Civil War.
He uses words such as “beasts” which just shows that he thinks they are animal images. This is shown again when he says “Once more, on pain of death…” it shows that he is very concerned about maintaining the public peace at all cost even the death penalty, it also foreshadows that later in the story something similar might happen again.
This scene in the movie is presented in a police station, which gives a sense of discipline. The prince in the play is also given a new type of character and role, however he still has the same status. The movie is made more realistic by not having a real Prince and instead a police chief with the same name.
In conclusion, Baz Luhrmann’s way to engage the audience was much better and more effective The scenes were made understandlable and appealing to the audiences, because Baz adopted the simple techniques very well. Whilst Shakespeare’s techniques were very challenging and only for some high-level audience.
