ROMEO AND JULIET DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

from the best of the best, the cream of the crop, the icons of our generation: janebba, moogs, and gary

J) With Romeo and Juliet being one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays holding so many
iconic lines/moments, how would an actor make sure their specific performance is unique and
different from what others have seen before?

J) Romeo and Juliet (and all Shakespeare) requires a huge amount of stamina both vocally and
physically. One thing I noticed in Romeo and Juliet is the escalation of both these aspects
throughout the production. How can actors make sure their energy continues to escalate as the
plot intensifies?

Q) Arguably, Romeo’s super objective throughout the piece is Juliet’s hand in marriage. If this is
the case, what motivates Romeo’s actions in the last three acts of the play, after they’ve already
married?

Q) Friar Lawrence stands as the sole religious figure in this play. If you were playing this role,
how would your faith play a part in navigating your involvement in Romeo and Juliet’s marriage?
Do you have guilt about the decision you ultimately make?

M) If Shakespeare never reveals to us what caused this long-standing feud between the
Montagues and the Capulets, what work, if any, would you have to do as an actor playing a
member of either family to justify your hatred? If you are playing a character outside of these
two families, how would this feud affect you?

M) The age-old question: are Romeo and Juliet actually in love? How do different answers to
this question change the play? If they’re not in love, what would the true super objectives of
those two characters be? If they are, how do you make that clear to an audience, given how
many strong and differing opinions there are of this play? What choices as an actor would you
make to support your answer to this question?