On the streets of Verona, Italy yet another brawl breaks out between the warring houses of Capulet and Montague.  Fed up with their feuding, the Prince threatens the lives of all future instigators.  The Montague’s son, Romeo, does not engage in the fighting; rather he spends his hours pining after his unrequited love, Rosaline.  In an effort to try and distract Romeo and return him to his old, fun-loving self, his friends take him to the Capulet’s masquerade ball.  Although he goes looking for Rosaline, Romeo sees and instantly falls in love with the Capulet’s daughter, Juliet.  

Romeo leaves his friends and ventures into the Capulet’s orchard, desperate to see Juliet again.  He finds her on the balcony and overhears her proclaiming her love for him.  Their parents’ enmity proves no barrier to their love, and they plan to be married secretly.

The next morning, Romeo sends word to Juliet by her nurse to meet him at Friar Laurence’s cell where the two are to be married.  Upon leaving the ceremony, Romeo is confronted by Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin and his family’s sworn enemy.  Romeo refuses to fight Tybalt, to whom he is now bound through marriage.  Confused by Romeo’s peaceful attitude and infuriated by Tybalt’s provocation, Mercutio, Romeo’s kinsman, steps in to defend his honor.  In the fray that ensues, Mercutio is mortally stabbed.  Overcome with grief, Romeo seeks revenge and kills Tybalt.  

Romeo flees to Juliet where he enjoys one night with his new bride before he hears the Prince’s decree of banishment.  On the morning of Romeo’s departure to Mantua, Juliet’s parents tell her that she is to be married to Paris, a nobleman.  Juliet is distraught by her parents’ decision and Romeo’s banishment and goes to the Friar for counsel.  Friar Laurence devises a way to reunite the separated lovers.  He gives Juliet a potion to drink that will cease all signs of life, without causing harm to her body.  They agree that once she has been buried, the Friar will come and wake her, thus freeing her to leave Verona to be with Romeo.  In the meantime, the Friar sends word to Romeo about their plan of escape.

Romeo never receives the Friar’s message.  Instead, he hears that Juliet has died.  He rushes back to Verona and to the Capulet’s sepulcher to see her one last time and to take his own life, in order that they may lay side by side in death.  In the tomb, Romeo speaks his parting words to his beloved wife, drinks poison and dies.  Moments later, the Friar arrives to wake Juliet and finds Romeo dead.  Juliet refuses to leave when she sees her dead husband.  She finds his dagger, stabs and kills herself.  Moved by their great loss and the love of their children, the Capulets and Montagues vow to end their hatred.

Lucy Tobin
Director of Education
The Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival