A stick-figure Shakespeare comic by Mya Lixian Gosling
When we last saw our hero ("our hero" meaning Romeo) he had just discovered that the young woman he fell madly in love with at the Capulet's party was, in fact, Juliet Capulet, daughter to his father's arch-nemesis, Lord Capulet. So naturally he decides to engage in some casual late-night breaking and entering.
Also, the real tragedy of Mercutio's short life is that he died centuries before the advent of the "that's what she said" joke. He would really have enjoyed that.
OK, remember last week when I said we'd be doing the balcony scene today? Well, I totally forgot about this second, much less famous prologue...
I don't think I've actually ever heard this prologue in performance. Have you?
TITLE CHARACTERS HAVE MET. REPEAT. TITLE CHARACTERS HAVE MET. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. PREPARE FOR INEVITABLE SERIES OF DESTRUCTIVE EVENTS.
A lot is always made of the fact that Romeo and Juliet's first conversation takes the form of a shared English sonnet (i.e. with the rhyming scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG). Arguably, this shows that they're soulmates and have an instant connection of hearts and minds... or possibly that they're just really good at ad-libbing in sonnet form. Either way, it's kinda cool.
Let's see, what's up next week...? OH. BALCONY.
When we last left our hero (and by "hero" I mean "Romeo"), he was about to crash the Capulets dinner party with his buddy Mercutio. Let's see how that goes...
I like how everyone can recognize Romeo despite him wearing a mask, whereas not even Rosalind's father can recognize her when she cuts her hair. SHAKESPEAREAN DISGUISES, people.
Tune on Thursday for "The Sonnet"!
Let's check in with our lovesick titular hero, his sensible cousin Benvolio, and his moderately unhinged friend, Mercutio.
I've always suspected that if Romeo hadn't interrupted Mercutio, he'd still be riffing on Queen Mab to this day.
OK, we've met Romeo, the world's most self-indulgent superficial romantic. Let's now meet Juliet!
Confession time: I know she's quite a popular character, but Juliet's nurse has always pissed me off a bit.
OK, let's get back to A Stick Figure Romeo & Juliet!
"What could possibly go wrong?" is a recurring theme in this play. And in most Shakespeare plays, to be honest. And in life, come to think of it.
My new life motto is "What could possibly go wrong?"
Tune in again next week, when we meet the other title character!
Romeo and Juliet
Dramatis Personae | Prologue | 1.1a | 1.1b | 1.1c | 1.2
It's Valentine's Day! Let's dust off one of Cole Porter's classic love songs and give it a Shakespearean twist.
If you're not familiar with the original song, here's another Shakespearean version of it, courtesy of the RSC Shakespeare Revue:
To be honest, I was trying to find a different song to use, because they did such a good job with this one and I didn't want to retread the ground, but it was just TOO MUCH FUN not to...
Happy Valentine's Day! (Or, if you prefer, Happy Singles Appreciation Day!)
