ROMEO AND JULIET PRESENTATION

SYNOPSIS:

                                         

Two of the richest and most important families in Verona (Italy), the Montagues and the Capulets, are engaged in a deadly feud. No-one can remember how it started, but it involves everyone, from the servants to the most distant relatives.

One day Romeo Montague finds out there is to be a masked ball that evening at the Capulet’s house. He decides to gatecrash the party in the hope of seeing the girl he loves from a distance – Rosaline.  At the party Romeo meets Juliet and fall in love passionately – not knowing each other’s identity until they part – Romeo, Montagues’ son; Juliet, Capulets’ daughter. After the party, Romeo goes to Capulet’s house and proposes Juliet to marry.  He says that he will make the arrangements for the wedding the next day with Friar Laurence. The following day Juliet sends her nurse to meet Romeo and  returns with the message that they will be married later that day by Friar Laurence. The same morning Romeo’s friend, Mercutio, fights with Juliet’s cousin Tybalt. Because Tybalt has killed Mercutio, Romeo fights and kills Tybalt. As a result Romeo is banished from Verona – on pain of death, and her mother dies that night because of this.

In the meantime, Juliet’s parents have arranged for her to marry Count Paris, a relative of Princes Escalus, the ruler of Verona. Juliet’s parents order her to prepare for her the wedding to Paris in three days time. In despair she asks Friar Laurence for help and he gives Juliet a potion, which will make her appear to be dead for 42 hours. The Friar says that once she is laid in the family tomb, he will send word to Romeo to come and take her away to Mantua.

Juliet swallows the potion and her parents think she is dead. The message from Friar Laurence is delayed, but the same day Romeo hears from another source that Juliet is dead. Romeo buys poison and gallops back to Verona. He finds Juliet lying in the tomb as if dead and Paris with some roses. First, he fights against Paris and kills him and then as he can’t live without her, he drinks the poison and dies. When Juliet wakes up and finds Romeo’s dead body, picks up Romeo’s dagger and kills herself.

Finally, Friar Laurence explains what has happened. Many young people are dead: Mercutio, Paris, Romeo’s mum, Romeo and Juliet. That was a result of their family feud. Montague promises to make a gold statue of Juliet and Capulet promises to make another for Romeo next to it.

CHARACTERS:

Romeo	Montagues’ son and the male protagonist.
Juliet	Capulets’ daughter and the female protagonist.
Friar Laurence	married Romeo and Juliet; he is Romeo's confidant.
The nurse	Juliet's personal attendant and confidant.
Mercutio	Romeo’s friend.
Tybalt	Juliet’s cousin; he kills Mercutio.
Rosaline	Romeo's love in the beginning of the story.
Count Paris	kingsman of Escalus who wishes to marry Juliet.
Prince Escalus	prince of Verona.