Blog # 4

If you were to stage the play, how might you depict the Montagues and Capulets to show that they are of similar class status and wealth but also make them recognizably different from each other and show the audience that they are enemies? You can talk about placement on the stage, costume, props, body language, style of speaking or any other dramatic elements.  

If I was to stage the play, I might put the Montagues family on the right side of the stage and the Capulets family on the left. There will be a place in the middle where people from both families can go and have some interactions with each other. Both of them will have fancy decorations to show their equal wealth. In my opinion, the Montagues are more passionate than the Capulet. Red is often used to represent passion. Therefore, I might use mostly red color on the Montagues family. On the other hand, I think the Capulet family is more gentle and formal.(Expect for Tybalt.) I want to use the blue color to show their calmness. Therefore, I might use mostly blue color on the Capulets family. In my play, the Montagues will behave more active than Capulets, and the Capulet will act more like though businessmen.  

I want my show to be more modernized. It is too challenging to have all the lines in Shakespeare's version and most audiences will not be able to follow along and understand the lines. Therefore, with the modernized version, I will add some slangs that people use in their daily conversation for the Montague boys. This will have to develop their characteristics of play-boys. There might be some original Shakespeare’s lines involved when the Capulets talk. That can show they intention of being fancy and higher-class(more educated) like.