Romeo and Juliet

Presented by Simone Maduro & Eric AndersonEdited by: Dr. Picart and Donna Gallagher

Aims

•To look at Romeo and Juliet in several versions to explore the relationship between text, play and dance. Also to provide background on Nureyev and how the story of Romeo and Juliet has been transformed.

Overview of Romeo and Juliet…

CharactersPlot

Discussion Question

•What does the following quote mean in relation to the understanding of language:

“When a man’s verses cannot be understood…it strikes a man more dead

than a great reckoning in a little

room.” -As You Like It

Discussion QuestionHow do you all feel about the

interpretation of the classic presented here? For example the replacing of the “noble balcony” with a fire escape.

Background – Ballet Timeline1946 R&J produced as revival by the Bolshoi Theatre

1955 ballet of play is first seen in west in London by Zagreb ballet

1959 performance makes its way to U.S. by Bolshoi Ballet

1966 Royal Ballet version of Romeo and Juliet is filmed.

1977 Nureyev stages R&J for the London Festival Ballet

Rudolf Nureyev

Rudolf Nureyev 1938 March 17 born in Siberia near Irkutsk 1945-55 studied dance, first ballet under Madame

Udelstova, did walk on roles for Ufa Opera House, became apprentice member of corps de ballet

1958 studied at Leningrad Choreographic (Kirov) School, stage debut at Kirov Theatre, Leningrad

1964 staged first complete ballet 1977 world premier of Romeo and Juliet at the

London Festival Ballet 1982 his production of Romeo and Juliet was

filmed at Teatro alla Scalla, Milan

The Royal Ballet• Filmed in 1966

• Choreographed by Kenneth MacMillan

• Nureyev performed Romeo

R&J Alterations•Romeo Must Die

•Romeo and Juliet

•What Became of Jack and Jill

•The Secret Sex Lives of Romeo and Juliet

•West Side Story

Romeo Must DieStarring: Jet Li, Aaliyah, Delroy Lindo, Russell

Wong

The story is moved to present day Oakland, California where the conflict arises between the

Chinese mafia and an African American gang. Han Sing (Jet Li in the Romeo role) is investigating the death of his brother and in the process falls for a

black mobster’s daughter (Aaliyah).

2000

Romeo and Juliet

Romeo: Kel Mitchel, Juliet: Fran de Leon, Mercutio/Narrator: Conrad Cimarra

A retelling of Romeo and Juliet from the point of view of Mercutio

2000

What Became of Jack and Jill

Starring: Vanessa Howard, Mona Washbourne, Paul Nicholas, Peter Copley

Modernized comedic re-telling. Also known as Romeo and Juliet ’71

1972

The Secret Sex Lives of Romeo and Juliet

Romeo: Forman Shane, Juliet: Dicora Carse

Also known as Juliet’s Desire

1968

West Side Story

Starring: Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno, George Chakiris

The film version of the Broadway musical that sets the story in 1950’s New York City with Beymer’s

Tony and Wood’s Maria as the star-crossed lovers trying to make love work amidst gang warfare

between the Polish and the Puerto Ricans. With songs by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen

Sondheim. Winner of 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Supporting Acting for Moreno and

Chakiris.

1961

Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet

Like Nureyev, Zeffirelli chose to explore new realms with the cinematic production of Romeo and Juliet

Less Victorian more Italian

Balcony scene more realistic

Discussion QuestionDoes the change in language, setting,

situation affect the underlying principles of the play from which it is based?

Works CitedAdaptations of Romeo and Juliet.

< http://www.english.uiuc.edu/newrevels/romeo.html >

Awery.

< http://www.awerty.com/romeo.html >

Romeo and Juliet. Dir. Paul Czinner. With Rudolf Nureyev, Margot Fonteyn. 1966

Rudolf Nureyev. Official Website. 2004

< http://www.nureyev.org >

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Shakespeare. Ed. Laurie Rozakis. New York. 1999