Romey and J: Blog 4

I would love to do Act 3, Scene 1 and 2 where Mercutio and Tybalt fight, Tybalt slays Mercutio and Romeo takes revenge on Tybalt and runs away. I love this scene because it changes the entire play from a romance to something very serious and important. The scene is interpreted very differently by differently based on how the person thinks of Tybalt. Also, it starts the rising action in the plot sequence to the point where Romeo and Juliet kill thyself. This scene really got to me because of how many things went terribly wrong for Romeo and I felt bad for him. Also, it ignites a furious hate for Tybalt for the audience.

In this scene, I would need to think about many things including scenery/stage setting, having a controlled fight scene with prop swords, lights on important characters. I would need to rearrange the space to allow Mercutio and Benvolio to enter and have sufficient space for Tybalt to enter too. Also, I would need to create space between them for them to exchange words. I would think Mercutio and Tybalt would be on stage left and walk to stage right and Tybalt and his gang would enter through stage left and exchange words with them. Also, I would want to make sure there is an entertaining fight scene which conveys the seriousness of it. I think I would have them in a center of the stage jumping around trying to dodge and have them hit each other with swords once or twice as they exchange taunts. And I would need heavy lighting on Tybalt, Mercutio and Romeo to show that  they are the most important characters and they should be recognized. I would have Mercutio and Benvolio in ripped jeans and wet shirt to show they have been drinking and I would have Tybalt in suit pants and shirt to show he is serious. This would make quite a contrasting appearance to show they are different and also tell the audience about their characters. There would need to be sounds when swords clink against each other.

In this scene, I would give myself the role of Romeo because I'm trying to solve problems all the time and I'm quite over the top like Romeo. I would put Shoaib as Tybalt as Shoaib looks very serious/sinister and can make a suit look good. Also, he stands upright and can look very professional if trying to kill someone. I would definitely cast Rehat as Mercutio as he is always looking to make fun of people and has a funny charisma about himself. Also, Shoaib and Rehat would make a very interesting duel. Finally, I would cast Benvolio as Zafir as he is responsible and would support Rehat and I.

I found Act 3, Scene 1 the most interesting scene.

Review of Baz Luhrmann's 'Romeo and Juliet'

Baz Luhrmann recreating Romeo and Juliet was a spectacle to admire. Lurmann's interpretation took place on the streets of hood-day Verona. Using colored hairs, brash swear words, all-over-the-place costuming, it brings Romeo and Juliet to a modern audience- or at least tries to.

I think Shakespeare would have liked the idea for these version because of how it kept the main themes and ideas of the story and tried to build another world around it. But I think the execution of this wasn't up to it. Of being both Shakespearean and too modern wasn't a good fit, it constantly kept bringing us out of the story. Also, the costuming and music didn't work out too well as it was all over the place and confusing for the audience.

The main difference between Shakespeare and Lurhmann’s version is that the former uses beautiful poetry and sound effects to bring an interesting experience to the audience through sound, while the latter uses bright colors and beautiful surroundings to interest the audience. The stage play had fewer props and had limited spaces played out on an open field while the movie was huge and had many characters and truly put the person in the experience. The acting really put the people watching in the situation and convinced them of how much they believed in family honor and their anger and grief towards each other’s families. Also, like most movies, DiCaprio and his mistress had a beautiful connection which was told beautifully through dialogue.

I think Shakespeare would have liked Lurhmann’s version because ultimately it was controversial and controversy always makes money.