Synopsis
The First Day
Scene 1
It is the morning before the feast
day of San Zeno - patron saint of Verona. Brother Lorenzo, Romeo's childhood
friend, finds him asleep on the steps of Capulet's house. Romeo is infatuated
with Rosalind, Juliet's cousin, who is shortly to arrive for the festival.
From the balcony, Juliet greets Rosalind - but does not see Romeo. Benvolio
jokes with his love sick friend. Among a group of actors who have come to
perform during the festival, Romeo recognizes Mercutio.
Juliet's Nurse shops
in the market with her servant Peter who is harassed by one of the Montague
servants. An argument develops between the servants of the feuding families -
the Capulets and the Montagues - and escalates into a street fight in which the
heads of both houses, Romeo and Tybalt, Juliet's cousin, take part. The
appearance of Escalus, Prince of Verona, puts an end to the tumult. He
confiscates the swords of Montague and Capulet to symbolize a truce between
them.
Capulet gives the Nurse an invitation list of for his ball which will
be held that evening. Romeo snatches the list away and is entranced to find
Rosalind's name among the invited.
Scene 2
Juliet, surprised while playing with
her cousins in the bath, is presented a medallion by her mother - a symbol of
adulthood and her eligibility to be married.
Scene 3
Capulet receives his guests in the
courtyard of his villa.
Scene 4
Capulet, his wife, and Tybalt open
the ball. Juliet and her cousins present an allegorical dance in honour of San
Zeno. Juliet senses the glances of a young man and forgets her steps. Count
Paris, chosen by Juliet's parents to be her fiancé, is introduced to her. In a
quiet part of the ballroom, Juliet is surprised by Romeo, who suddenly appears
beside her. Tybalt rudely interrupts their tender encounter.
Scene 5
The guests make their
farewells.
Scene 6
Romeo, however, remains in the
Capulets' courtyard and observes Juliet alone on her balcony. She sees him, and
they discover and enjoy their spontaneous love.
The Second Day (The Festival of San
Zeno)
Scene 1
Celebrations in the city have begun.
Romeo sends Brother Lorenzo to Juliet to arrange for their secret marriage. The
actors perform a play which seems to prefigure the destiny of the young lovers.
The Nurse brings Romeo word of Juliet's acceptance.
Scene 2
Romeo arrives at Brother
Lorenzo's.
Scene 3
Brother Lorenzo marries Romeo and
Juliet secretly in hopes of ending the feud between their families.
Scene 4
The festivities continue. The
drunken Tybalt provokes Mercutio, then kills him accidentally in a duel. In
blind rage, Romeo revenges the death of his friend. In grief, Juliet's mother
collapses on Tybalt's corpse. The actors escape from Verona taking Romeo with
them.
The Third Day
Scene 1
Tybalt is buried.
Scene 2
Romeo, banished from Verona, has
returned in disguise to spend the night with his wife Juliet. At dawn, he must
leave. Juliet's parents announce their intention of marrying her to Paris that
very day. She refuses.
Scene 3
Thoughts of Romeo give Juliet
comfort and the courage to seek help from Brother Lorenzo.
Scene 4
Lorenzo gives her a vial containing
a potion that will put her into a temporary but death-like sleep. In her
imagination, the actors play out a happy ending.
Scene 5
When Paris comes to Juliet a second
time, she agrees to the marriage.
Scene 6
Taking the potion, Juliet
experiences a nightmare encounter with the dead Tybalt, but a vision of Romeo
again promises a happy end...
The Fourth Day
Scene 7
Attempting to wake her, the Nurse
and Juliet's cousins believe her to be dead.
Scene 8
On the way to Mantua, the Nurse
informs Romeo of Juliet's death. He hurries back to Verona, missing Brother
Lorenzo, who desperately searches for Romeo, in order to explain his
plan.
Scene 9
Juliet is buried in the Capulet
vault. When the procession of mourners leaves, Romeo remains. Believing that
Juliet is dead, he stabs himself. Juliet awakens, and finding Romeo dead, joins
him in death.
