Synopsis
Act One
Scene One
A square in Verona. The early hours of dawn. Romeo, son of old Montague, is wandering throughthe deserted streets.
Three servants come out of the Capulet’s palace and head for the inn. Servants of the family of Montague, who have had a long-standing feud with the Capulets, appear in the square. The Capulet servants pick a quarrel with them, which develops into a fistfight, and swords are unsheathed. Benvolio, a relative of the Montague’s, and Tybalt, relative of Capulet, join in the fight. Paris, who has come to Verona to ask for the hand of Juliet, the young Capulet daughter, arrives in the square when the brawl is at itspeak. The heads of two rival families, brandishing heavy swords, preparing for a battle with each other.
The alarm bell tolls. Crowds of citizens hasten to the square.
The Duke of Verona appears and only he manages to put an end to the fighting. One of the Duke’s retainers reads out a decree to the crowd: no one has the right to unsheathe their arms on the streets of Verona. One who will not comply to that decree, will be strictly punished.
In the Capulet household preparations are underway for the ball. The Nurse is hurrying to Juliet. She is carrying a spectacular ball gown.
Scene Two
Juliet will not allow her Nurse to dress her for the ball: she hides from her in different corners of the room. Her mother comes in and brings Juliet the news that Paris has asked for her hand in marriage.
Scene Three
In the ostentatious palace of Capulet, preparation for the ball is taking place.
Mercutio, friend of Romeo’s, and Benvolio decide to go to the Capulet’s ball in disguise and persuade Romeo, son of Montague to join them.
Scene Four
Romeo and his friends arrive in the Capulet palace. Guests are watching Juliet’s dance admiringly. While Mercutio distracts the attention of the guests, Romeo goes up to Juliet and tells her that he is enchanted by her. Suddenly the mask falls of his face. Now it is Juliet who cannot take her eyes off the stranger. But Romeo and his friends are forced to leave. Tybalt has recognized the member of rival Montague’s family.
Only late at night, when the last guests have left the Capulet house, does Juliet learn from the Nurse the name of the young man who has won her heart.
Scene Five
It is night-time. Juliet is dreaming of the handsome young man. In the garden, she catches sight of Romeo. Romeo and Juliet confess their love for each other.
Act Two
Scene One
A square in Verona. It is lively and crowded with people. There is a big holiday in the city. Juliet’s Nurse makes her way through the crowd; she is looking for Romeo to give him a note from Juliet.
Romeo ecstatically presses the note– Juliet is willing to become his wife.
Scene Two
A dark cell. A skull, a reminder of the transient nature of earthly existence, lies on the table next to a magnificent bunch of white flowers, a symbol of the joys of life. Friar Laurence is conducting a secret marriage service of Romeo and Juliet. He hopes that this marriage will put an end to the centuries-old enmity between the two families.
Scene Three
The bitter enemies: Romeo, Mercutio and Tybalt meet each other on the square of the town. Tybalt treacherouslykills Mercutio. Romeo is urged to revengethe death of his friend. In the fierce fight Romeo kills Montague. By the order of the Duke, the young Montague is expelled from the town forever.
Scene Four
Romeo meets dawn in Juliet’s room. But it is time for him to leave; the household is beginning to wake up. As soon as Romeo, having embraced Juliet for the last time, runs off, Juliet’s parents,her Nurse and Paris appear. But JulietreceivesParis so coldly that he’s forced to leave a palace. Juliet’s parents are furious with her, and her father threatens to turn her out of his house.Juliet, in despair, runs to Friar Laurence.
Scene Five
Juliet falls at the feet of her spiritual adviser, begging him to help her. Juliet is ready to kill herself, but Friar Lawrence quickly takes away the dagger from her and offers a way out of the situation to her. Friar Laurence hands Juliet a phial with a sleeping portion of the poison and explains that it will make her fall asleep. Juliet’s parents, believing her to be dead, will bury her in the Capulet family crypt. Romeo, who will be informed of everything by Friar Laurence, will return to Verona in the dead of night to carry off Juliet far away from the city – this will be the way of saving the couple. Juliet drinks poison when she arrives back to her home.
Scene Six
The news that the Capulet‘s daughter has died immediately spreadsaround the city. The sad tiding is brought in advance of Friar Laurence’s messenger to faraway Mantua where Romeo is.Grief-stricken young Montague rushes to Verona.
Scene Seven
All Verona attends Juliet’s funeral at the Capulet family crypt. When the mourners leave, Romeo enters the vault. Romeo drinks poison and collapses on the steps of her tomb. Juliet wakes up to find Romeo dead. Not being able to conceive of life without him, Juliet, without a moment of hesitation, stabs herself to death with a dagger.
Epilogue
Over the bodies of their children Montague and Capulet hold out their hands to each other. Love has proved itself stronger than the long-standing enmity of the two illustrious families of Verona.