Michelle Gindorf
10th march 2016
Context
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet: Context
Romeo and Juliet is a tragic play written by William Shakespeare between 1591 and 1596. It is believed it was written closer to 1596 though since other recent plays, such as Love’s Labour’s Lost, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Richard II were very similar. “There are no surviving records for any performances before the Restoration in 1660, but it is likely that Romeo and Juliet was first acted by the Lord Chamberlain’s Men at the Theatre and then at the Curtain. It has been suggested that Richard Burbage may have played Romeo, with the boy actor Robert Goffe as Juliet.” Romeo and Juliet is known as one of the greatest loves stories ever written, especially
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The language was probably the most loved part as barely and props and no scenery was used. The audience was supposed to by focusing on the “richly evocative Language.” The performances were accompanied by music and costume though to add the “effect” From there on Shakespeare’s great story of lovers Romeo and Juliet, many people got they’re inspiration. As mentioned above, there were several film adaptations, however also many musicals are based on the timeless play. A few very successful musicals which were inspired by the original piece were composed by Berlioz, Gounod, Bellini and Tchaikovsky. “Kenneth MacMillan choreographed a ballet to Prokofiev 's music and this was premiered at Covent Garden in 1964, with Rudolph Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn in the title roles. Since then it has become a much–loved part of the ballet repertoire.” Finally, also Westside story is based on the Shakespeare play from 1957 by Leonard Bernstein. The themes stay consistent, however, strangely, although the play is supposed to be a tragedy it often seems more comedic than several other plays that Shakespeare wrote. This may be because it has more in common with the other comedies that Shakespeare wrote than the tragedies. One could say that Shakespeare wrote the ultimate piece when he mixed tragedy and comedy into one. “This mixture of styles ultimately hurts Romeo and Juliet, exposing the immaturity of the