Romeo and Juliet are one of the famous tragedies by William Shakespeare. The selected performance for this analysis is the one by Douglas Booth, Paul Giamatti, Damian Lewis, and Hailee Steinfeld of 2010. The producer of this work relies on the use of a grave and balconies to stage the play. The interplay of darkness and light is the outstanding lighting for this work of art. In terms of costumes, the majority of the female characters wear blue velvet and princess bodices. The males in the play appear to have noblemen shirts and breeches. The play has several characters who deliver the intended message, including Juliet, Romeo, Mercutio, Tybalt, and Benvolio, and Prince Escalus (Providence College, 2010). Using these attributes, the producers of the selected performance managed to deliver the original message to the audience. However, the specific work was improved and modernized.
In this play, the audience acknowledges that a positive mood of happiness, brightness, and romance is evident. However, this emerges from the love relationship between Juliet and Romeo. However, Verona appears to present a mood of cruelty and ugliness. The conflict between Montagues and Capulets delivers the attributes of tragedy. The topic of the performance revolves around tragic, comic, light-hearted, and intense feelings. Even though the work is described as a tragedy, the viewer realizes that the first two scenes are comic and entertaining (Providence College, 2010). Nonetheless, the identified improvements make it possible for the audience to get the relevant message.
The selected play has specific sections that are more entertaining and easy to follow. First, viewers observe that Act 2: Scene 5 is memorable and understandable since it describes the wedding that takes place secretly. In Act 2: Scene 1, the audience realizes that Romeo takes a risky measure with the sole aim of reuniting with Juliet. These parts are meaningful and support the development of the entire play. Several details stood out after watching the selected performance. First, the play describes a long-running feud between the Capulet and Montague families more efficiently. Second, Juliet makes a resolute decision to marry Romeo because she truly loves him. She says: “If I do so, it will be of more price, Being spoke behind your back than to your face” (Shakespeare, n.d., p. 35). This quote reveals that she never loved Paris. The challenges of tragedy and bloodshed appear to threaten the future of most of the characters.
After watching the entire performance, I have realized that Shakespeare was a great author whose works remain outstanding and entertaining. The reader of this work will get additional insights into the established relationships between members of different social classes in the community (Providence College, 2010). The aspect of joy is evident since Romeo and Juliet find love for one another and their eventual deaths become the true solution to the existing disagreement. However, the tragic end of the work is quite sympathetic after realizing that the two lovers are unable to achieve their goals.
I have identified several takeaways from the selected performance. First, I have appreciated the effectiveness of high-quality lighting and staging to make a play more meaningful and understandable. Second, the work becomes a new opportunity for reading widely to understand how playwrights can combine different themes in a specific genre, such as justice, love, trust, betrayal, and death (Providence College, 2010). In conclusion, I will watch additional plays and make the relevant comparisons to expand my knowledge continuously.
References
Providence College. (2010). Romeo and Juliet [Video]. YouTube.
Shakespeare, W. (n.d.). Romeo and Juliet.