The prologue of Zeffirelli’s production is kept in a serious mood as well as the setting. The music played in the background was soft and the type of music was classical. The prologue was only read out once and the voice was kept solemn all the way through the prologue, but was still kept in a serious mood. Probably to show how serious the play is. The setting of the play in Zeffirelli’s production was set in a real Italian city. The scenery for the prologue was a bit dull and the picture was misty purposely, when watched on the television screen. This was probably to show how old the play actually is. When ‘Romeo and Juliet’ was on the screen, gothic writing was used to spell it out. When the prologue was read out there was not enough information given out and lots of the prologue was missed out purposely. For instance ‘Is now the two hours traffic of our stage.’ I consider this prologue was an empty one from the Zefferelli production.
The beginning of the prologue from the Baz lurman’s production was totally different compared to Zefferelli’s production. The beginning of the prologue starts with a small television getting bigger and bigger as it comes towards the screen. On the television screen is a newsreader, reading out the prologue. The prologue read by the newsreader had no music in the back round and the style was kept like it was real news. The news emphasis that this play is ‘breaking news.’ After the prologue was read out once the prologue was then repeated again. But this time in the background powerful music was used, as the voice was solemn. The play was set in Verona Beach, USA. Religious imagery was used a lot in the prologue as well as a lot of violence. Key words flashed across the screen, like ‘star-crossed lovers’. Both readers who read out the prologue in the Baz lurman’s production had American accents, which make the words sound really modern. Normally a person who reads the prologue is not a character from the play. But when the prologue was repeated for the second time Friar Laurence’s voice read the prologue. Also the second time when the prologue was repeated in the Baz lurman play the characters were briefly introduced, but Romeo and Juliet were not introduced at all. Maybe because Romeo and Juliet are the main characters in the play.
Shakespeare started the play with a dynamic and vibrant scene as it is the first scene of the play. Shakespeare had to write the play so it would apply to all of his audiences. So the main theme for the first scene was started by violence. This was because it would catch the audience attention and so the ‘penny stinkers’ in the pit would be interested in the play. For all the other rich people who were interested in the play, Shakespeare put in a contrast of love and hate. So it would not be boring for either the rich or the poor. The first scene of the Shakespearean play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ was one of the longest scenes of the play. This was so Shakespeare could set the scene as well as introducing most of the characters. In the first scene there was innuendo so that all the ‘penny stinkers’ would have not lost their interest in the play. Shakespeare used sexual talk a lot in the first scene and one quote that I thought was very rude was ‘My naked weapon is out’. After this was said the Capulets bit their thumbs to the Montagues. If someone was to bit there thumb in Shakespeare’s days it was the same as sticking your middle finger up today, which basically meant swearing.
After this happening both of the oppositions started to have a fight. Then Benvolio, Romeo’s cousin, tries to break everything up. The first words he says was ‘I do but keep the peace’. In this section of the scene he decides to be the peace maker, this is not really significant for his character throughout the play. But straight away in the next line Tybalt has a contrast with this situation, explaining why the talk of peace and how he hates this word. ‘What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word’. The peace talk doesn’t seem to work at all, so the crowds start to join each family, the Montague’s and others joining the Capulet party. ‘Strike’ “beat them down! Down with the Capulets, down with the Monagues!” each party shouted out, showing how feud spreads.
In the Baz lurman production of the first scene there was a lot of religious imagery again. The Bazlurman production has an extra character called Abra. In the film of the first scene the Monagues were afraid of the Capulets and the Montagues did have that evil look towards them. The fight scene started in the gas station and humour was also used. Guns were used instead of swords and they had religious imagery on the guns too. The fight scene finally ended by the prince arriving. He arrived on a helicopter and seemed like he had authority because everybody had to look up to him. This showed the contrast of power. The chief prince then tells the both families to meet in the same room, and he issues a threat. But in the text it is different.
The Zeffirelli production was kept with a serious look to the first scene. The first scene is set in the market and that is where the fight begins with more people involved. The feud introduces this scene. The Zefferelli production was purposely more violent than any other production to prove the point of seriousness. The Montagues and the Capulets seem to be even and so does the fight. When the fight really starts hotting up Juliet’s dad seemed keen to join in the fight, ‘give me my long sword’. When the prince arrived on his horse the fight had been stopped and he gives out a final warning to both parties. ‘If ever you disturb streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace’. In my own opinion I though that the Zefferlli production seemed more original to the script but it was not so interesting comparing to the Bazlurman production.
