Romeo and Juliet Comparisons 212.84 KB
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COMPARISONS Romeo and Juliet performed Matthew Bourne’s Romeo Romeo and Juliet by by the Royal Ballet, Romeo + Juliet directed by and Juliet William Shakespeare (the choreographed by Kenneth Baz Luhrmann Juliet & Romeo by Lost Dog original) MacMillan YEAR PRODUCED 2019 Circa 1594-1597 1965 1996 2018 GENRE Dance Theatre Play (Original Text) Classical Ballet Film Dance Theatre In the stark, antiseptic and Romeo and Juliet is a tragic unfeeling interior of the love story. Romeo Montague An American romantic crime Verona Institute young men and Juliet Capulet belong to tragedy. This film is an This show sets out to put the and women are stifled by a powerful feuding families adaptation and modernisation record straight and tell the repressive regime that and are therefore destined of Shakespeare’s original and ‘real’ story of Romeo and Juliet. dampens all spirits and to never be together. They appears as the second It turns out they didn’t die in a emotions. The inmates' lives meet by chance at a party instalment in Luhrmann's Red tragic misunderstanding in a are marked out by the mind- thrown by the Capulets, at Curtain Trilogy concept tomb in Verona after all. In fact, numbing rigours of daily which Romeo had gate- following Strictly Ballroom they eloped, set up home exercise, therapy and sleep. crashed with the hope of and preceding Moulin Rouge. together and produced a baby The male and female seeing Rosaline – the young Situated in a modern beach daughter, called Sophie. Now inmates are for the most woman he intends to marry. setting that is part decaying they find themselves all grown- part segregated. When It is love at first sight for Miami and part Mexico City, in up and in the grip of a marriage Romeo arrives he falls in the star-crossed lovers and a ‘world’ of Luhrmann’s he crisis. OVERVIEW love with the strong, Romeo and Juliet can think As per the original borrows aspects of its unique selfless and beautiful Juliet of no-one else except each visual style from such Feeling constantly mocked by straightaway. A brutal other from that point decades such as the 1940s, their teenage selves and institute guard, Tybalt is onwards. Juliet’s hand in 1970s, and 1990s It’s fast- haunted by the pressures of also captivated by her and marriage has been paced and full of cars and being the poster couple for she is the object of his promised to Paris, a suitor firearms. Here the Montague romantic love they decide to regular abuse. As tensions of her father’s choosing and the Capulet families are confront their current struggles within the institute rise, a however, which does not warring mafia empires. This by putting on a performance – scuffle breaks out and bode well for Romeo. Juliet is an era of dystopian about themselves. As it turns Mercutio is fatally wounded defies her father’s wishes dysfunctionality where drugs, out however, there memory of by a single shot from and turns to Friar Laurence guns and the breakdown of their past doesn’t always Tybalt’s gun. With Juliet for help knowing that civil society is the new match. leading the charge, and Romeo is her one true love. normal. with the full support of Friar Laurence concocts a Romeo and the other plan for Juliet to fake her residents, they set upon own death to get out of her Tybalt and Juliet strangles marriage to Paris. Then, him with his own belt. Life after the potion she has at the Verona Institute takes taken has worn off she will a turn for the worse and awaken and will be free to Romeo is put into solitary escape with Romeo. A confinement. Desperate, message detailing the Juliet seeks the help of Rev. arrangements fails to reach Bernadette Laurence so she Romeo though and he can be reunited with him. believes Juliet death is real. Whilst alone in his cell, Heartbroken he drinks Juliet becomes disorientated poison and takes his own and disturbed and believes life. When Juliet wakes from Tybalt is alive after all and her slumber she finds is looking for them. In the Romeo’s lifeless body and confusion that follows Juliet realises what has accidentally stabs Romeo. happened. In total grief she In grief at the loss of her also takes her own life, soulmate, Juliet takes her using Romeo’s dagger, and own life too. the lifeless bodies of the young lovers lay side by side. The Verona Institute, exact SETTING location not determined Verona, Italy As per the original Verona Beach, USA (fictional) An apartment in Paris (fictional) ERA The not too distant future 16th century As per the original Post-modern day Modern day Romeo (son of Senator and Romeo, son and heir of Lord Mrs Brie Montague) and & Lady Montague. High on ecstasy Romeo falls Juliet – both inmates at The Approximately 16 years of instantly in love with Juliet, Verona Institute. age he finds himself in the midst of two warring whom he has met by chance Juliet and Romeo - husband PRINCIPLE They are segregated by the families, though he is As per the original at a party he’s gate-crashed and wife pair both in their mid- CHARACTERS guards, with love and preoccupied with love rather with his cousin, Benvolio. It is 40’s and with a marriage in feeling discouraged. This than violence and is an not until later that they crisis. production also features intensely passionate and realise they belong to feuding Tybalt (the Guard), Benvolio, idealistic character. families. Mercutio and Balthasar (whom are in a Juliet is just 13 years of relationship). The role of age, and the daughter of Paris, as per the original, is Lord & Lady Capulet. She is switched to Frenchie and from an incredibly she is Juliet’s best friend. aristocratic family and up until the point she meets Romeo, has led a very protected existence and is rather naïve – though later shows great strength and maturity. Neither Friar Laurence, nor At the start of the ballet Lord & Lady Capulet appear Romeo is discovered in semi- in this production. darkness at the start of the ballet as Rosaline’s Prince Escalus is rewritten as The character of Rev. anonymous suitor. Rosaline is the police chief of Verona It is Juliet & Romeo’s therapist Bernadette Lawrence is a the niece of Lord Capulet and Beach and called Captain that has suggested they journey new character created for though she is an unseen Prince. The character Friar back in time to key moments in the New Adventure’s character within John does not appear in their relationship to help repair adaptation and is closely Shakespeare’s Romeo and Luhrmann’s adaptation and it. The audience (whom the PLOT TWISTS based on the part of the N/A Juliet, she is an important one some characters change performers address at times Nurse – Juliet’s confidante nonetheless. Romeo is deeply families such as Gregory and during the show) have been and supporter. in love with Rosaline at the Sampson who are Montagues invited to observe this latest start of the play and in Romeo + Juliet but were attempt at repairing their In Matthew’s production it dismayed his love for her in Capulets in the original. relationship, as laid-down by is Juliet who takes her own unrequited. He first spots their therapist. Juliet whilst trying to catch a life, in total devastation at glimpse of Rosaline at a Romeo’s death, rather than gathering hosted by the the other way around. Capulet family. INCLUDES ORIGINAL DIALOGUE? No dialogue used N/A No dialogue used Yes In parts New Adventures were given In Shakespeare’s time permission to create a more music would have been Composed in September 1935 Includes ‘Everybody’s Free (To Includes ‘Kissing You’ (Love intimate orchestration of more directly with the by Sergei Prokofiev for Feel Good)’ by Quindon Tarver, Theme from Romeo +Juliet) by MUSIC Sergei Prokofiev’s timeless performance on stage in the orchestra. The first recording ‘Talk Show Host’ by Des’ree (taken from Baz masterpiece, for Matthew sense that characters would of music from the ballet was Radiohead and ‘Lovefool’ by Luhrmann’s 1996 film), ‘The Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet. react to the sounds being made with the Moscow The Cardigans Sound of Silence’ by Simon and played, as opposed to Philharmponic Orchestra in Garfunkel and ‘Dance of the Terry Davies, Matthew’s having a full musical score 1938. Knights’ by Prokofiev. long-time collaborator and as is commonplace now. Associate Artist of New The choice of instruments Adventures, created a score would have been somewhat for a small chamber limited, but it is thought orchestra of 15 musicians. that Shakespeare’s A re-imagination of tragedies and history plays Prokofiev’s work from the would often use trumpets ground up, Terry created an and drums for ceremonial acoustic sound-world that sounds and certain wind is simple and at times instruments being used to fragile and necessitates for suggest danger or each player to use two or foreboding. three different instruments each. Romeo and Juliet also includes a song as text CLICK HERE to watch within the play: "When Matthew Bourne and Griping Griefs". Conductor, Dan Jackson, talk about the music of Romeo and Juliet Inspired by the legacy of In 1965, MacMillan's Romeo During the ball scene, which New Adventures’ production and Juliet was given its is a huge party thrown by the Whilst the choreography is a premiere at Covent Garden by Capulets each character is set-piece, the dialogue between Lord of the Flies that the two performers (whilst engaged over 8,000 young The Royal Ballet and was an dressed in a fancy-dress men and boys in 2014, immediate success.