Romeo and Juliet
Romeo
and Juliet is set in Verona, Italy, at a time when two noble families, the Montagues and the Capulets, are enemies. Prince
Escalus, ruler of Verona, threatens terrible punishment on anyone who
takes part in violence in the streets.
Young Romeo Montague is hopelessly in love with Rosaline and, in an attempt to cure his misery, his friends persuade him to go disguised to a party at the home of his family's enemies, the Capulets. Romeo agrees to go when he learns that Rosaline has been invited.
At the party, he meets Juliet, only daughter of the Capulets, and not even knowing each other's names, they fall instantly in love.
Even though shocked by the discovery about their families, both Romeo and Juliet are determined to marry, and choose go-betweens to help them arrange a secret wedding. Romeo asks his friend and mentor, Friar Laurence, to conduct the ceremony, while Juliet sends her nurse.
As arranged, Romeo meets the Nurse, who is instructed to make sure that Juliet arrives at the Friar's the following morning ready to be married.
Now secretly married to Juliet, Romeo encounters her aggressive cousin, Tybalt, who challenges him to a duel. Romeo is unwilling to fight with him for Juliet's sake, but his closest friend, Mercutio, takes up the challenge instead. Mercutio is stabbed to death. Romeo then kills Tybalt.
Prince Escalus banishes Romeo to Mantua.
Meanwhile, Juliet’s parents have arranged her marriage to Count Paris. She is desperate and Friar Laurence gives her a potion so she may seem dead in her sleep. He explains that the effects will wear off within 42 hours, by which time she will be buried in her family's crypt.
He promises to send a letter to Romeo immediately, explaining the situation and asking him to return in time to be with Juliet when she awakes.
Young Romeo Montague is hopelessly in love with Rosaline and, in an attempt to cure his misery, his friends persuade him to go disguised to a party at the home of his family's enemies, the Capulets. Romeo agrees to go when he learns that Rosaline has been invited.
At the party, he meets Juliet, only daughter of the Capulets, and not even knowing each other's names, they fall instantly in love.
Even though shocked by the discovery about their families, both Romeo and Juliet are determined to marry, and choose go-betweens to help them arrange a secret wedding. Romeo asks his friend and mentor, Friar Laurence, to conduct the ceremony, while Juliet sends her nurse.
As arranged, Romeo meets the Nurse, who is instructed to make sure that Juliet arrives at the Friar's the following morning ready to be married.
Now secretly married to Juliet, Romeo encounters her aggressive cousin, Tybalt, who challenges him to a duel. Romeo is unwilling to fight with him for Juliet's sake, but his closest friend, Mercutio, takes up the challenge instead. Mercutio is stabbed to death. Romeo then kills Tybalt.
Prince Escalus banishes Romeo to Mantua.
Meanwhile, Juliet’s parents have arranged her marriage to Count Paris. She is desperate and Friar Laurence gives her a potion so she may seem dead in her sleep. He explains that the effects will wear off within 42 hours, by which time she will be buried in her family's crypt.
He promises to send a letter to Romeo immediately, explaining the situation and asking him to return in time to be with Juliet when she awakes.