The couple marry each other in a secret wedding ceremony, performed by Friar Lawrence, a priest and a friend of the couples. This again also replicates the commonness that occurs in films, books and even in the life of a celebrity, i.e. Jennifer Lopez and Chris Judd.
Then comes the twist, where Romeo is sentenced to banishment after killing Juliet’s cousin Tybalt. These kind of twists occur in many modern day stories, where something dreadful happens, that completely makes you think twice about whether or not it will be a happy ending; i.e. Bridget Jones Diary
Then, when the play had already dealt with so many issues concerning morality; another issue arises, when the priest Friar Lawrence plans what will result in the deaths of the lovers. The misfortunate plan gets out of hand and results in what is the famous and most well recognised tragic love endings ever to be staged in the history of theatre! The deaths of both Romeo and Juliet!
This is a very recognisable formula, which is still used for modern love stories, written in the twentieth and twenty-first century. Films such as “Underworld” Starring Kate Beckinsale, follows the same formula as “Romeo & Juliet”. “Underworld” has been perceived as the modern day tale of “Romeo and Juliet”, it contain the violence, the hate and the love, which is all present in the original version of “Romeo and Juliet”.
“Romeo and Juliet” is about hate just as much as love, their two feuding families hate for one another, led the couple to love each other even more, so that they could bring their families together as one, and stop the violence. However, although Shakespeare did not say why these families loathed one another, it was clear that their ongoing rage was far from over, their hate caused much violence throughout the play, and the violence led to deaths, such as the deaths of Mercutio, Tybalt and Paris. It was not until the deaths of Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet that the families had finally came to their senses and halted the violence, and put an end to the terrible hate that had overcome the two lovers, to their graves.
The relevance of “Romeo and Juliet” to a modern audience is extremely important, the play itself will need certain adjustments made but still needs to send the vibe that is needed to be sent, during the staging of “Romeo and Juliet”.
To ensure its relevance to a modern audience, I have decided to make my setting in a town in the middle-east, on the Gaza strip called Verona, this will be the border that separates the Palestine’s (Capulet) from the Israeli’s (Montague). I feel that this will ensure the audiences attention because it has basic history and has strong moralities building its structure to reflect the hate and violence, and can really show the turmoil created once the characters interact and fall in love.
Setting “Romeo and Juliet” in this way will really draw the audiences attention, and not only can it reflect the concept of “Romeo and Juliet” but it can even imitate the difficulties and struggles faced by the Palestine’s and Israeli’s in the REAL modern world. By doing the performance in this fashion it can really involve the audience to gain a much clearer understanding of love, hate, war and death in the middle-east. Not only will it show a clash between two nations but a clash and feud between two religions, (which Shakespeare did not/could not involve).
My interpretation of “Romeo and Juliet” would involve Romeo Montague as an Israeli student and Juliet Capulet as a Palestinian student. Before the performance has even got underway it easily recognisable for the audience that their two families are enemies. The language will be edited to suit the time period and to relate with the type of language used by the audience, in the modern era. Shakespearean language used in the sixteenth century has lost its relevance and it would be better understood if the speech were changed to modern language, this would regain the audience’s attention towards the play.
The theme will endeavour to perceive the specific theme of the original “Romeo and Juliet”; this will involve the introduction, showing the two feuding nations, battling one another. Then it will introduce the Capulet family, following them it will introduce the Montagues.
The scene in which they fall in love, will take place in an Eid-ul-fitr celebration, taking place at the house of Capulet. Romeo will attend secretly, due to the fact that he has great interest in the celebration, and would like to witness the on goings. There he will lay eyes on the jewel of his heart, and fall madly in love.
Falling in love scene.
Act One Scene Five
CAPULET Assalamualaikum, Eid Mubarak, brothers and sisters, we are all present to celebrate the holy festival of Eid, may Allah shower peace and blessings towards us Palestine’s and allow us to enjoy our celebrations in peace. Bismillahi Rahmanir Rahim (in the name of Allah the beneficent, the merciful) let us eat!
ALL CAPULETS Allahu Akbar
(They all commence to eat)
ROMEO [to the waiter] Who is that beautiful women in white, the one with those sparkling emerald eyes.
WAITER I do not know, sir.
ROMEO Oh, how I crave to say but a word, but how I could not handle her response, once she hears the truth of my background. My name is enemy and my nation is the distraction keeping me away from her.
[Juliet’s eyes glance, over, she recognises Romeo]
Oh, Lord she has seen me. I must leave before I am caught.
JULIET Excuse me, sir. My eyes have caught your attention, from all those in the room. I must ask, who are you?
ROMEO I dare not say my name, for it is your enemy, and now has become mine, too.
JULIET I don’t understand, how could I not know your name but so soon become your enemy?
ROMEO You are too beautiful to be my enemy, but our fate is too ugly for you to be my love.
JULIET If fate is too ugly for me to be your love, then why is it that I have fallen for you, kind stranger?
[Benvolio enters]
ROMEO My name, it is….
[Benvolio interrupts]
BENVOLIO The Capulets have seen me, I must leave, come with now.
[As Romeo and Benvolio escape]
ROMEO It’s Romeo, my name it’s Romeo.
[Romeo and Benvolio exit]
[Enter Tybalt]
TYBALT Stop them.
JULIET Who are they, that you chase?
TYBALT Them! They are Montague scum!
JULIET Montague, oh! Allah forbid.
[Tybalt exit]
For I have fallen in love with a Montague, can there be such a bigger sin. I love my enemy, and I must hate the one I love!
[Exeunt]
“Romeo and Juliet” has been portrayed as one of the most powerful love stories ever, its base and structure is still used today. This shows the power of its relevance, which is still needed in the modern world of performing arts. Its relevance still remains demanding given that the production of “Romeo and Juliet” imitates the actual characteristics that still exist in the world today, the hate and violence that is depicted in the play relates with the modern day issues that occur day by day; however this may cause a problem to depict this image when it comes to staging the actual performance, in a theatre.
The problems with staging could be difficult to overcome problems such as how to set the scene may be difficult due to the atmosphere, in the location where the play is to be set.
The Gaza strip has an atmosphere that consists of desert type features; this may be challenging to exemplify as the scene changes occur, nevertheless to overcome these slight drawbacks, the stage design could intend to show different aspects of scenery as the scene changes occur the audience can then realize the location of the scene, whether it is an outdoor or indoor scene.
Other problems that I thought may cause concern when staging the production was the way in which, both families illustrate their beliefs and religion, this may be difficult when it comes to the stage design, as there is a significant difference between the two ‘clashing’ cultures, to ensure that this does not happen, I think that rather than changing the stage setting; as the two different types of characters come up, it would be better if the characters from the families depict which role they are playing, whether they are Palestinian or Israeli. This can be illustrated by the way in which the characters dress and also the way they speak.
By using the technique that I have chosen, it will still allow the natural gist that it is intended to be given off during a production of “Romeo and Juliet”. By staging the production in this manner it will still portray a significant relevance to a modern day audience.
