Romeo & Juliet in the 1920’s

Act 1 Scene 5 By Lena, Ally, & Erin Romeo & Juliet in the 1920’s

The Cast • Romeo- Joseph Gordon- Levitt • Juliet- Mia Wasikowska • Tybalt -Channing Tatum • Benvolio- Liam Hemsworth • Nurse- Susan Boyle • Lady Capulet- Meryl Streep • Capulet- Stephen Tovolowsky • 2nd Capulet- John Goodman • The serving men- The three stooges, Larry, curly, Mo

Romeo & Juliet Romeo - Joseph Gordon Levitt • Melancholy • Romantic • Emotional range • Juliet - Mia Wasikowska • Innocent and younger looking than her age • Precocious • Insightful

Tybalt & Benvolio Tybalt - Channing Tatum • Sometimes in violent movies • Aggressive • Muscular and athletic • Benvolio - Liam Hemsworth • Easy going personality • Peaceful • Loyal

The Nurse & Lady Capulet The Nurse- Susan Boyle • Vulgar, humorous • Mother figure • Juliet’s only friend • Lady Capulet- Meryl Streep • Ignorant • Up-tight • Relies on the nurse to communicate to Juliet

Capulet & 2nd Capulet Capulet - Stephen Tobolowsky • Wistful • Out-of-touch with daughter • Easily provoked • 2nd Capulet –John Goodman • same age as Capulet • Childhood friend and cousin • Reminiscent

The three Serving Men The three serving men-Larry, Curly, Mo • Bumbling along • Clumsy • Causing trouble • clueless

History • PROHIBITION ERA • The prohibition era and the Elizabethan age, were two completely different time periods. The prohibition era took place from the 1920’s to the 1930’s. • In 1920, the 18th amendment banned alcohol. This led to illegal making/selling (also called ‘bootlegging’) of alcohol. • Another difference is the slang, for example, in the 1550’s you would not say ‘drunk’, you would say ‘ataunt’. In the 1920s, however, you would say, ‘bent’, ‘blotto’, ‘fried’, ‘blind’, ‘hoary-eyed’ , ‘half under’, ‘ossified’, ‘splifficated’, or‘Zozzled’. • Jazz, ragtime, and the music of Broadway were the ‘in’ music styles. • Radio and phonograph record were invented. • ELIZABETHAN AGE • The Elizabethan age took place from 1558 to1603. • Alcohol was not a problem in the Elizabethan age. It was considered luxurious to be able to drink wine and other alcohol. Usually, only the wealthy drank these beverages. • This period was considered to be the ‘golden age’ of English history. The Elizabethan age helped lay the base of the English poetry, music, and literature we know today. • These were only five types of music: church music, court music, town music, street music, and theatre music.

Fashion • One of the biggest differences in the time periods, was the fashion.

Fashion of the 1920s • FASHION IN THE 1920s • In the aftermath of World War I, America entered a prosperous era and, as a result of her role in the war, came out onto the world stage. Social customs and morals were relaxed in the giddy optimism brought on by the end of the war and the booming of the Stock Market. New music and new dances came on the scene. Women got the vote in 1920 and were entering the workforce in record numbers. The nationwide prohibition on alcohol was ignored by many when it suited them. There was a revolution in almost every sphere of human activity, and fashion was no exception. • Clothing changed with women’s changing roles in modern society, particularly with the idea of freedom for women. Although society matrons of a certain age continued to wear conservative dresses, forward-looking and younger women now made sportswear into the greatest change in post-war fashion. The tubular dresses of the ’Teens had evolved into a similar silhouette that now sported shorter skirts with pleats, gathers, or slits to allow motion to rule women’s fashion for the first time in history. • The straight-line chemise topped by the close-fitting cloche hat became the uniform of the day. Women "bobbed," or cut, their hair short to fit under the popular hats, a radical move in the beginning, but standard by the end of the decade. Low-waisted dresses with fullness at the hemline allowed women to kick up their heels literally in new dances like the Charleston.

Fashion of the 1550s • Women's fashions of the earlier 16th century consisted of a long gown, usually with sleeves, worn over a kirtle or undergown, with a linen chemise or smock worn next to the skin. • The high-waisted gown of the late medieval period evolved in several directions in different parts of Europe. In the German states and Bohemia, gowns remained short-waisted, tight-laced but without corsets. The open-fronted gown laced over the kirtle or a stomacher or plackard. Sleeves were puffed and slashed, or elaborately cuffed. • In France, England, and Flanders, the high waistline gradually descended to the natural waist in front (following Spanish fashion) and then to a V-shaped point. Cuffs grew larger and were elaborately trimmed. • Hoop skirts or farthingales had appeared in Spain at the very end of the 15th century, and spread to England and France over the next few decades. Corsets (called a pair of bodies) also appeared during this period. • A variety of hats, caps, hoods, hair nets, and other headresses were worn, with strong regional variations. • Shoes were flat, with broad square toes.

Summary of Romeo & Juliet Caught in the deadly grip of an intense hatred emerging from old family feuds, the members of the two distinguished Veronese houses of Capulet and Montague, from highest relative to servant, become emotionally embroiled in bickerings, fierce squabbles, lowest and occasional bloodshed when they encounter each other in the quiet streets of town. The prince of Verona resents these disturbances, and the prince finally declares the lives of the next offenders to be forfeit. Passionate hatred flares out, however when the Capulets discover that Romeo, heir of the Montagues, has come, uninvited and disguised, to the banquet given by old lord Capulet to his intimate friends. Unknown to the others, Juliet, heiress of the Capulets, is approached after the dance by the handsome Romeo, who is charmed by her beauty and grace. A hasty inconsiderate passion seizes both. That night, Juliet, having learned Romeo's name, appears on her balcony to mourn her secret to the moon and stars. Risking his life, Romeo has gained access to the orchard and is listening to her words. He makes himself known, and they are married the next morning in the cell of the good Friar Lawrence, who can deny nothing to his friend Romeo, and who devoutly hopes that the marriage will help to end the old family quarrel. Juliet hastens home, and at noonday Romeo joins some companions in the street who are contending with the furious Tybalt, nephew of Lady Capulet, still fuming over Romeo’s intrusion at last night’s ball. A devastating fight now occurs. Tybalt kills Romeo’s friend Mercutio. Romeo fights and kills Tybalt. The prince of Verona himself arrives and immediately banishes Romeo from the land.

Continued summary Juliet’s father, knowing nothing of her secret marriage, decides she shall marry the young Count Paris. The despairing girl beseeches Friar Lawrence to help her, and relies utterly on the plan he suggests. She consents to the marriage, but on the morning of her wedding day, drinks a potion prepared for her by the Friar which gives her every appearance of death. She is carried to the ancient tomb of the Capulets. Before Friar Lawrence’s letter of explanation can reach him, the exiled Romeo is informed by a fleet messenger of Juliet's death. He buys enough poison to dispatch twenty men to quick death, and sets out for the Capulet tomb. Count Paris has come that night to strew Juliet’s grave with tears and flowers, and intercepts Romeo brusquely as he is forcing the tomb open with wrenching irons. In his desperation, Romeo fails to understand why Paris will not go away and leave him with his beloved dead. They fight, and Paris dies, pleading with his last breath to be laid near Juliet in death. With gradually clearing vision, Romeo accedes and drags the dead body of Paris into Juliet's vault, who’s dark horror seems to him to be filled with the radiance of her presence. He forgives his enemy, and makes to his Juliet his last protestations of undying affection. Raising the cup of poison to his lips, he drinks to his love, and dies. Friar Lawrence comes to the grave at the time he knows Juliet will wake up. He finds the dead bodies of the two men, Juliet refuses the Friar’s plea to flee. Her only wish is to continue their perfect love by following her husband through death. She plunges Romeo’s Dagger into her heart, and falls across his body, dead.

Continued Summary Like wild fire, the news of these consummating tragedies flies through the town. The prince of Verona and his attendants, with the households of the two warring factions, quickly gather at the Capulet tomb where Friar Lawrence tells the entire story. The Prince points out the dreadful scourge which hate has brought upon these two families, and Montague and Capulet join hands in peace over the poor sacrifices of their enmity. This story is all about love

Closing • As you can see this is a very melancholy, but well written, play. Thank you for watching, Lena, Ally, and Erin

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Romeo & Juliet in the 1920’s