Romeo and Juliet

SYNOPSIS

Another brawl between the Capulet and Montague families has broken out on the streets of Verona. As the fighting escalates, Prince Escales enters and temporarily restores the peace. When things settle down, Montague asks his nephew, Benvolio, to find out what’s been bothering his aloof son, Romeo. Benvolio talks with his friend and quickly discovers the source of Romeo’s anguish: he pines for a girl who doesn’t love him back. Meanwhile, Capulet is preparing for a feast at his house that evening. After asking Juliet’s suitor, Paris, to attend the party, Capulet sends off his servant to invite the rest of the guests. When the illiterate servant runs into Romeo and Benvolio, they read the guest list and see that Rosaline, the object of Romeo’s desire, will be at Capulet’s party. They resolve to attend the feast in disguise. Back at the Capulets’, Juliet’s mother is encouraging her daughter to consider marriage, and wants her to observe Paris during the party that night. Juliet agrees to look, but tells her mother she’s not yet ready to marry.

That evening, Romeo and Benvolio go to the Capulets’ with their friend, Mercutio. Lady Capulet’s feisty nephew, Tybalt, spots Romeo and nearly explodes, insisting that the Montague must be thrown out. As Capulet holds back Tybalt, Romeo and Juliet lay eyes on each other for the first time and fall in love. After the party, Romeo sneaks back onto the Capulets’ property and finds Juliet alone at her window. They speak for the first time at length and resolve to marry.

The next day, Romeo and Juliet are married in secret by Friar Lawrence. The two lovers plan to meet that night and part. That afternoon, Tybalt hunts down Romeo and challenges him to a fight. When Romeo won’t engage, Mercutio draws his sword. Romeo tries to part Tybalt and Mercutio, but when he steps between them, Tybalt stabs and kills Mercutio under Romeo’s arm. Romeo then retaliates and kills Tybalt. The Prince banishes Romeo.

Juliet hears about the murders and realizes that her new husband is also her cousin’s murderer. Romeo and Juliet spend one night together before Romeo flees to Mantua. As soon as he leaves, Capulet insists that his daughter marry Paris. Juliet gets a drug from Friar Lawrence that creates the illusion of death. The morning of the wedding, the Capulet family is fooled by the false death, and Juliet’s body is moved to the family’s tomb.

Friar Lawrence, meanwhile, tries to send a message to Romeo in Mantua to let him know about Juliet’s feigned death. A twist of fate, however, prevents Friar Lawrence’s messenger from going to Mantua. Romeo’s servant brings word that Juliet has died, and the young lover rushes back to Verona. He enters the tomb, where he finds and kills Paris, takes a poison, and dies atop Juliet. She awakes, finds her dead lover, and stabs herself.

Major Production Sponsors: Philip and Hilary Burling

Additional Production Sponsors: Paul and Katie Buttenwieser