Continuing on the Romeo and Juliet theme, here’s another question.  We all know about the “ancient grudge” between the Montagues and the Capulets.  The play starts out with a fight between them.  One of the great stylized moments of the Luhrman version was the closeup on the guns and how they were all different “brands” of “sword”. But something I’ve always wondered is, just how violent are they toward each other?  We know that they’ve “disturbed the streets” what, three times previously, the Prince tells us?  But are we talking about glorified shouting matches, where neither side is really interested in doing anything more than flaunting their manhood?  At the start, the worst we get is a thumb biting.  And even then, whoever it was (Sampson?) has to ask, “Is the law on my side if I say Aye?”  So we see that while he hates the Capulets, he doesn’t want to get in trouble, either.  Swords come out, Benvolio attempts to beat them down, and then Tybalt joins the fray.  We get the feeling that this has all happened before.  What I’m wondering is, had it not been stopped, would someone have gotten hurt?  Is it really violent, or just walking that edge?
Another thought — Montague’s first words to Benvolio are, “Who set this ancient quarrel new abroach?”  That could be interpreted as meaning that the two families have not been clashing in the streets lately, that things have been settling down.  The Prince doesn’t say that they’ve disturbed the streets three times in the last month, after all.  Later, Capulet mentions to Paris, “Tis not so hard for men as old as we to keep the peace.”  So maybe this ancient grudge is actually nearly forgotten, before suddenly being thrust back into the spotlight.   What I’m wondering is, when Mercutio and Tybalt are killed, what’s the reaction of the crowd?  How would a third party look upon the news story the next morning?  Is violence just a part of daily life, and these were just two more stupid kids who ended up dead?  Or do we have a case where it’s understood that yes, they hate each other, but it’s all talk, nobody gets hurt.  Then, when somebody does finally get hurt, it has that much more impact, like “Holy cow, Romeo, what did you do???”  Did Mercutio enter into the sword fight with Tybalt without ever thinking that he might actually get hurt?  Did they not think that they were playing a life and death game?  This sort of gets back to the idea from an earlier post about maturity levels and how old these kids are.  They can act grown up, they can play with weapons like they were toys, and probably are in the habit of doing exactly that.  But then the violence finally tips over the edge, and that’s when everything comes crashing down. Dare I say it?  Momma always said, it’s all fun and games until Mercutio gets it in Act III. 🙂  

(*) sort of

I’ve said before, many times, that I think The Tempest is ripe for Disney picking.  Little girl living with her Dad (note no mother figure?) on an island with her playmates, a sprite name Ariel (have to change that to avoid Mermaid confusion) and the mischievous sea monster Caliban.  Enter Prince Ferdinand, with whom she falls madly in love.  Throw in a couple of bad guys Stephano and Trinculo, in league with Caliban, who are easily dispatched, a few other bumbling cast of characters to round it out.  Little girl learns that she’s actually a princess (or close enough, she’s whatever she is when she’s the daughter of the Duke of Milan) and everybody sails home for a wedding and a happy ending.  Perfect.

Until I get that, be sure to check out Sealed with a Kiss, a new animation by former Disney guy Phil Nibbelink (Fox and the Hound, Black Cauldron…).  He’s done his own thing here, a 2D Flash animation with hand-drawn art that depicts Romeo and Juliet as…seals.  Get it?  The big downside is that it’s a highly limited release, strictly in a few California theatres.  If you’re in the neighborhood, though, go see it and tell us how it is!  This is the sort of thing that the second it appears on video, I’m getting it for my kids.  Disney should do more Shakespeare.  Yes, yes, I know it’s not Disney doing it, but I’m sure he’ll keep the flavor and style that we all know and love.

More Animated Shakespeare…

• Review : Sealed With A Kiss
• Sealed With A Kiss, Part Two
• Disney’s Gnomeo and Juliet Is Really Happening!

So I’m going back over Romeo and Juliet for a project I’m playing with, and I just noticed something that I’d never really thought of before. Act I, Scene iv, we see Romeo, Benvolio and Mercutio getting ready for the party . This is where the famous Queen Mab speech comes in. I also think it’s interesting that Mercutio, for such a strong character, gets no real introduction, he’s just that fun guy that you party with. Mercutio’s first line in the entire play is “Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance.” Makes me think of characters from Seinfeld or something.

Anyway. The thing I just noticed is this exchange:

Romeo: “I have a soul of led so stakes me to the ground I cannot move.”
Mercutio: “You are a lover, borrow Cupid’s wings, and soar with them above a common bound.”

That sound familiar to anybody? Act II, Scene ii.

Romeo: “With love’s light wings did I o’er-perch these walls, for stony limits cannot hold love out.”

While Romeo is busy wooing Juliet, he’s blatantly stealing lines that Mercutio gave him! That’s actually funny. Maybe that’s something that everybody else has seen before, but I don’t recall my 9th grade English teacher pointing it out. (I do remember her showing us the Zeffirelli(?) film and forgetting to mention there was nudity in it. Never saw anyone run for the Stop button so fast!)

If, just for a moment, you spin the play completely different, where Romeo and his friends really are just college boys looking to get some action after the party (basically what Benvolio and Mercutio wanted), you could have a blast with it. Imagine drunken Mercutio and Benvolio hiding in the bushes underneath the balcony loudly whispering things like, “Tell her Queen Mab hath been with you!” or “Show her your naked weapon!”

Maybe I’m just sleepy, I’m writing this on the morning train to keep myself occupied :).