Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet, In Short
A "Shortened Shakespeare Script

Copyright, 2008, Take Part Productions (Scripts For Schools). This script may be freely duplicated within school of
purchase. www.scriptsforschools.com
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ROMEO & JULIET, In Short
by Lee Karvonen
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESTABLISHING THE RHYTHM
To find the proper rhythm for this piece, first read-aloud and clap through the
sections as you go. Each underlined word or word part falls directly on a beat. As
you read, clap on each underlined word, keeping the rhythm steady. Be careful
not to read too fast!
This is a rehearsal technique and readers will not clap throughout these sections
during performance. After you have established the beat, it is time to start
interpreting, experimenting, and having fun with the words by varying tempo,
volume, inflection, and expression. Be careful not to allow the development of a
"sing-song delivery while rehearsing and performing this script.
STAGING
This script may be staged as either a Readers Theater Reading or as a
Traditional Play:
If you are staging it as RT, hang signs around each characters neck telling the
audience the name of that character. (NARRATOR, ROMEO, JULIET, FRIAR
LAURENCE, CAPULET, etc.) Since most RT productions do not involve much stage
movement, ask your Narrator (and some of the other characters who have
smaller parts) to hold up large signs at the proper moments to inform the
audience which stage movements are happening at the time. (ASIDE, TAKES
JULIET'S HAND, DRINKS THE POISON, etc.).
NOTE: If you are staging the piece as Traditional Theater, simply block your
actors as you normally would, and follow the stage directions below.
3
Cast of 16
CHARACTERS: Romeo, Juliet, Friar Laurence, Capulet, Montague, Lady
Montague, Lady Capulet, Nurse, Gregory, Sampson,
Abraham, Tybalt, Paris, Benvolio, Prince, & Narrator
PROLOGUE
NARRATOR : TWO HOUSEHOLDS ALIKE IN DIGNITY
IN FAIR VERONA TOWN.
BUT SINCE THIS IS A TRAGEDY,
YOU KNOW SOMEONE'S GOING DOWN.
A PAIR OF STAR-CROSSED LOVERS
WILL TEMPT THEIR FAMILIES' RAGE.
TO SEE HOW THIS THING ALL WORKS OUT,
YOU'LL HAVE TO TURN THE PAGE.
THE CAPULETS AND MONTAGUES
HAVE ,668(6, IT IS TRUE,
BUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO WORK THEM OUT
WILL TURN THEM REALLY BLUE.
PULL UP A CHAIR AND HAVE AN EAR,
THEIR STORY FOR TO LEARN.
'TIS VERY SAD TO UNDERSTAND
THE WAGES SIN WILL EARN!
4
SCENE ONE
SAMPSON: TODAY I'M SPOILING FOR A FIGHT;
LET'S FIND A MONTAGUE.
MY BLADE IS ITCHY IN MY HAND;
I'D LIKE TO RUN ONE THROUGH.
GREGORY: THEN SET YOURSELF; HERE COME A PAIR,
SO WE CAN START A FIGHT.
LET'S QUARREL FOR OUR MASTERS' SAKE;
WE KNOW WE'RE IN THE RIGHT!
SAMPSON: HEY ABRAHAM, YOU WEAK OLD MAN,
OUR MASTER IS THE BEST,
SO NOW PUT UP OR SHUT UP;
HEY, MAN, THIS IS THE TEST.
ABRAHAM: I SEEK NO QUARREL WITH YOU, SIR.
SO, PLEASE, JUST LET ME PASS.
SAMPSON: WELL, SIR, I BITE MY THUMB AT YOU.
YOU CANNOT LET THAT PASS!
ABRAHAM: I SERVE A MAN AS GOOD AS YOURS.
GREGORY: NO BETTER, DO YOU SAY?
5
ABRAHAM: YES, BETTER, KNAVE; NOW DRAW
AND LET YOUR INSULT DIE TODAY!
NARRATOR: AND SO THE FIGHT WAS ON;
IT WAS A QUESTION OF BELIEF,
AND THEN BENVOLIO BROKE IT UP
WITH BLADE DRAWN FOR RELIEF.
BENVOLIO: PUT UP YOUR SWORDS! BE MEN OF PEACE!
I BEG YOU ALL TO STOP!
THIS QUARREL HAS GONE FAR TOO FAR;
IT'S WAY OVER THE TOP!
TYBALT: BENVOLIO, YOU TALK OF PEACE
AND YET YOUR BLADE IS DRAWN,
I HATE THE WORD, AND MONTAGUES,
AND HELL - LET'S GET IT ON!
NARRATOR: THE PRINCE WAS CALLED TO BREAK IT UP
AND HE WAS IN A RAGE.
HE WAS, FOR CERTAIN, ALL FED UP
WITH QUARRELS AT THIS STAGE.
PRINCE: HEY CAPULET! HEY MONTAGUE!
YOU ENEMIES OF PEACE!
TODAY BECOMES THE FINAL STRAW!
6
YOUR QUARREL NOW MUST CEASE!
IF YOU PERSIST NOW, EITHER ONE,
YOUR LIVES WILL PAY THE PRICE!
NOT ANOTHER CIVIL BRAWL!
THERE'S NO MORE MISTER NICE!
SCENE TWO
LADY MONTAGUE: BENVOLIO, I ASK YOU PLAIN,
HAVE YOU SEEN ROMEO?
I WORRY THAT HE IS SO SAD
AND BLUE AND DOWN AND LOW.
BENVOLIO: HE WANDERS THROUGH THE STREETS AT DAWN
AND MOANS A MIGHTY SIGH,
HE SOUNDS AS IF IT'S FATAL
AND THAT SOON HE'S GOING TO DIE.
I'LL SEEK HIM OUT AND TRY TO LEARN
WHAT SADDENS HIM SO DEEP,
THEN MAYBE ALL THE REST OF US
CAN CATCH UP ON OUR SLEEP!
(to Romeo)
OH COUSIN, WHAT IS TROUBLING YOU?
WE'RE WORRIED AS CAN BE.
7
ROMEO: I LOVE MY TRUE LOVE MORE THAN LIFE!
MY TRUE LOVE WON'T LOVE ME!
OR SHE HAS SWORN TO BE A NUN!
ALAS, SHE WILL BE CHASTE!
THAT WE SHOULD NEVER KISS AND HUG
IS JUST NOT TO MY TASTE.
SCENE THREE
PARIS: LORD CAPULET, PLEASE TELL ME NOW.
WHAT SAY YOU TO MY PLEA?
WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR DAUGHTER,
JULIET, TO MARRY ME?
CAPULET: GOOD PARIS, PLEASE REMEMBER
THAT MY GIRL IS JUST THIRTEEN.
I KNOW, GIRLS YOUNGER THAN MY DAUGHTER
OFTEN ARE QUITE KEEN,
BUT ALL MY OTHER CHILDREN
ARE NO LONGER IN THIS WORLD.
ALLOW ME JUST A LITTLE MORE TIME
WITH MY LITTLE GIRL.
8
PARIS: LORD CAPULET, I ASK AGAIN,
HER BEAUTY TO POSSESS.
I LONG TO SEE YOUR LITTLE GIRL
POSED IN HER WEDDING DRESS.
CAPULET: I UNDERSTAND YOUR HASTE, MY SON,
AND SO I'LL TELL YOU THIS:
IF SHE'S A WILLING BRIDE TO YOU,
MY OBJECTIONS I'LL DISMISS.
SCENE FOUR
SERVANT: IF , COULD ONLY READ, YOU KNOW,
THEN I COULD READ THIS LIST,
THEN I'D BE SURE THAT NARY OF MY
MASTER'S GUESTS ARE MISSED
(to Romeo & Benvolio)
GOOD SIRS, I BEG OF YOU TO HELP
ME UNDERSTAND THESE WORDS
TO SEND THE ILLITERATE WITH A LIST,
IT SEEMS TO ME ABSURD.
9
ROMEO: IT SAYS AN ANNUAL FEAST IS PLANNED
BY MASTER CAPULET
(to Benvolio)
THIS IS ONE PARTY INVITATION
I WILL NEVER GET.
(to Servant)
MARTINO AND ANSELMO,
PLACENTIO AND VALENTINE,
OH WOW! I DON'T BELIEVE IT !
IT'S MY HEARTTHROB, ROSALINE!
BENVOLIO: (to Romeo) HEY DUDE! LET'S CRASH THIS PARTY.
I KNOW IT WILL BE FINE!
SERVANT: IF YOU BE NOT A MONTAGUE,
COME CRUSH A CUP OF WINE! (exits)
BENVOLIO: HEY ROMEO, LET'S PARTY, DUDE!
THE INVITATION'S PLAIN.
IT'S LIKE THIS PARTY'S MEANT FOR YOU.
LIKE, IT IS A NO-BRAIN!
AND THERE'LL BE BEAUTIES THERE
WILL MAKE YOUR LADY LIKE A CROW.
YOU'LL FIND SOME OTHER BABE
TO GIVE YOUR CHEEKS A ROSY GLOW.
10
ROMEO: I'LL GO, BUT JUST TO SHOW YOU
ROSALINE IS NUMBER ONE,
ELSE THAT, I PROMISE NOT TO HAVE
ANY KIND OF FUN!
SCENE FIVE
LADY CAPULET: MY DAUGHTER'S LATE. I CALLED HER HERE
A HALF AN HOUR AGO!
MY PATIENCE GROWS QUITE SHORT.
MY LADY BETTER SHOW!
NURSE: SHE WAS TWELVE WHEN LAST I CALLED HER.
SHE'LL BE THIRTEEN WHEN SHE'S HERE.
JULIET: HERE I AM, DEAR NURSE OF MINE.
HERE I AM, MOTHER DEAR.
LADY CAPULET: SO DAUGHTER, TELL ME TRULY.
HOW STAND YOU TO BE WED?
JULIET: IT IS AN HONOUR THAT HAS NEVER
ENTERED IN MY HEAD.
11
NURSE: OH WISE AND HAPPY GIRL ARE YOU!
PRAY MISTRESS, WHO IS HE
WHO'LL WED OUR DARLING JULIET,
AND BED HER HAPPILY?
LADY CAPULET: THE NOBLE COUNTY PARIS,
THE MOST ELIGIBLE IN TOWN
HAS ASKED YOUR FATHER FOR YOUR HAND!
NURSE: YOU COULD NOT TURN HIM DOWN!
JULIET: I'LL LOOK TO LIKE THE COUNTY,
BUT NO MORE WILL I SHOW
MY LOVE TO NOBLE PARIS
THAN YOU WOULD WISH IT SO.
SCENE SIX
NARRATOR: THE PARTY WAS JUST STARTING
WHEN THE CRASHERS HIT THE DOOR,
ROMEO AND BENVOLIO,
THE MONTAGUES AND MORE.
THE TORCHES BURNED, THE GUESTS MADE MERRY,
ROMEO WAS OKAY
AND THEN HE SAW A BEAUTY WHO JUST TOOK
12
HIS BREATH AWAY.
SHE DANCED WITH COUNTY PARIS
AND HER COUSIN, BOLD TYBALT.
SHE CLEARLY WAS A WOMAN
WITH WHOM ROMEO FOUND NO FAULT.
ROMEO: THIS ONE I MUST TALK TO;
THIS ONE I MUST MEET,
THIS ONE I MUST LAY
MY FORTUNES AT HER FEET.
HER FACE WOULD TEACH THE TORCHES
HOW HEY SHOULD BURN BRIGHT.
I HAVE GOT TO MEET WITH THIS
YOUNG LADY NOW, TONIGHT!
TYBALT: THIS VOICE I KNOW, A MONTAGUE,
A VILLAIN HERE TO SCORN.
I WILL MAKE THE CRASHER WISH
THAT HE HAD NOT BEEN BORN!
CAPULET: SETTLE DOWN, MY NEPHEW,
I'M THE MASTER HERE!
IN MY HOUSE YOU WILL SEE
THAT NO HARM DOES COME NEAR.
13
TYBALT: BUT UNCLE, HE'S A MONTAGUE!
YOUR HATED BLOOD FEUD FOE!
CAPULET: I HEAR THAT HE'S A GOOD LAD,
SO YOU WILL LET THIS GO!
TYBALT:(aside) OKAY UNCLE, IT'S YOUR HOUSE.
YOU MAY TREAT HIM NICE.
BUT LATER I'LL CONFRONT HIM,
AND HE WILL PAY THE PRICE.
ROMEO: (takes Juliet's hand) YOUR HAND IS LIKE A
PILGRIM'S SHRINE
WHICH I MUST NOT PROFANE
BUT MY TWO LIPS WILL DARE TO TOUCH IT;
I PRAY THAT THEY WON'T STAIN.
JULIET: OH PILGRIM, DO NOT WRONG YOUR HAND;
IT HAS A GENTLE TOUCH
AND HAND TO HAND IS PALMER'S KISS;
I THINK I LIKE IT MUCH.
14
ROMEO: OH MAIDEN, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL,
THE TOPS, YOU ARE A PIP!
I THINK A KISS UPON THE HAND'S
WORTH TWO UPON THE LIPS.
JULIET: THIS IS OH SO SUDDEN!
I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO.
ROMEO: THEN LET ME TAKE YOU IN MY ARMS
AND LAY MY KISS ON YOU.
JULIET: OH THAT WAS SWEET, SO SWEET IS SIN
LIKE THIS, A VIRTUE SURE.
ROMEO: OH, LET ME TAKE THAT SIN AGAIN
WITH ANOTHER KISS SO PURE!
NURSE: OH JULIET, YOUR MOTHER DEAR WOULD
LIKE A WORD WITH YOU.
JULIET: EXCUSE ME, SIR, SUCH A REQUEST
IS SOMETHING I MUST DO.
15
ROMEO: OH NURSE, PLEASE TELL ME IF YOU WILL,
WHO IS YONDER MISS?
(aside) FOR SHE IS ONE WHOSE LIPS I ONCE
AGAIN WOULD WANT TO KISS.
NURSE: OH SIR, HER NAME IS JULIET.
HER FATHER OWNS THIS HOUSE.
THE MAN WHO GETS HER WILL, FOR SURE,
HAVE HIMSELF QUITE A SPOUSE.
AN ONLY CHILD, SO SHE GETS ALL,
YOUNG, BEAUTIFUL AND RICH.
ROMEO:(aside) THE DAUGHTER OF MY ENEMY!
THIS IS AN AWFUL SWITCH!
NARRATOR: AND SO THE PARTY BROKE UP,
THOUGH IT WAS BARELY THREE
AND REVELLERS DEPARTED,
THOUGH THE HOST SAID, NOT WITH GLEE,
CAPULET: IT'S NOT SO LATE, A BANQUET WAITS;
OH, MUST YOU REALLY GO?
WELL, YES, I GUESS IT'S RATHER LATE
THEN, OKAY, TIME TO BLOW.
16
JULIET: OH NURSE, PLEASE TELL ME WHO IS HE
WHO JUST NOW LEAVES THE HALL.
NURSE: I'LL CHECK. OH GOSH, IT'S ROMEO,
A MONTAGUE AND ALL!
JULIET: (aside) MY LOVE SPRUNG FROM MY ONLY HATE;
I HATE IT WHEN IT DOES!
IF I HAD KNOWN THAT NEWS BEFORE,
WOULD I HAVE HAD THIS BUZZ?
SCENE SEVEN
ROMEO: I'LL RUN AHEAD AND LOSE MY FRIENDS;
I HAVE A SERIOUS PLAN.
IT'S SOMETHING I MUST DO ALONE;
IT'S TIME TO BE A MAN.
I'LL SNEAK ON UP TO JULIE'S WINDOW,
JUST TO SEE HER FACE.
I THINK, I KNOW THAT I'M IN LOVE!
I JUST CAN'T LEAVE HER PLACE.
BUT SOFT, WHAT LIGHT THROUGH YONDER
WINDOW IS ABOUT TO BREAK?
IT'S JULIET! MY SUN AND MOON!
MY EARTH'S ABOUT TO QUAKE!
SEE HOW SHE LEANS UPON HER HAND
17
AND HOW SHE SIGHS AND SPEAKS?
A GLOVE UPON HER HAND I'D BE
TO TOUCH HER LOVELY CHEEK.
JULIET: O, ROMEO, O, ROMEO,
O WHY IS THAT YOUR NAME?
IF ONLY YOU'RE NAMED SOMEONE ELSE,
IT WOULDN'T BE SO LAME.
JUST DENY YOU'RE MONTAGUE
AND SWEAR THAT YOU'LL BE MINE
OR I'LL STOP BEING CAPULET,
AND I'LL LOVE YOU JUST FINE.
ROMEO: (aside) I'VE GOT TO SPEAK TO THIS,
BUT I KNOW NOT KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
O JULIET, IT'S HE WHOM YOU MOST
WANT TO GO AWAY!
JULIET: I'VE BARELY HEARD A HUNDRED WORDS,
BUT, SURE, I KNOW THAT VOICE,
IT'S ROMEO, THE MAN I LOVE,
MY ONLY ONE, MY CHOICE.
BUT, OOPS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
IT'S DEATH IF YOU ARE FOUND!
YOU'RE MAD TO BE HERE, MONTAGUE;
THIS IS CAPULET GROUND!
18
ROMEO: I'D DIE HERE JUST TO BE WITH YOU;
MY LOVE IS GROWN SO LUSH.
JULIET: YOU ARE A FORWARD GENTLEMAN;
YOU MAKE A LADY BLUSH.
ROMEO: I LOVE YOU JUST LIKE LIFE ITSELF!
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH MORE,
I'LL SWEAR BY ALL THE STARS AND MOON,
IT'S YOU THAT I ADORE!
JULIET: OH DO NOT SWEAR ETERNAL LOVE
IS IN YOUR HEART FOR ME.
NO, SWEAR JUST BY YOUR GRACIOUS SELF;
YOU'RE MY IDOLATRY.
AND NOW GOODNIGHT MY TRUEST LOVE,
SO TRUE ALTHOUGH SO NEW,
AND MAY YOU HAVE MOST SWEET REPOSE;
I WILL; I'LL DREAM OF YOU.
ROMEO: O JULIET, YOU CANNOT LEAVE
ME SO UNSATISFIED!
JULIET: WHAT SATISFACTION CAN YOU HAVE?
ROMEO: FOR YOU TO BE MY BRIDE!
19
JULIET: IF THAT IS WHAT YOU REALLY MEAN,
IF THIS, YOUR LOVE, IS TRUE
THEN TELL TO ONE I'LL SEND TO YOU,
WHERE WE WILL SAY "I DO".
THE WHERE AND WHEN I WILL DEPEND
TO HEAR FROM YOU TOMORROW
OR ELSE I'LL SPEND ALL OF MY DAYS
IN DEEPEST, DARKEST SORROW.
ROMEO: FEAR NOT. I WILL ARRANGEMENTS MAKE,
FOR OUR SWEET WEDDING DAY.
THE DETAILS I'LL RELAY TO YOU -
JUST WHERE THOSE WORDS WE'LL SAY.

JULIET: GOODNIGHT, GOODNIGHT, MY ONE TRUE LOVE,
I'LL SEE YOU ON THE MORROW,
MEANWHILE WE'LL SPEND THE NIGHT APART,
FOR PARTING IS SWEET SORROW.
SCENE EIGHT
ROMEO: O, FRIAR LAURENCE, LISTEN UP,
FOR I HAVE GOT GREAT NEWS
I HAVE FOUND MY LADY LOVE,
THE ONE WHO LOVES ME TRUE.
SO TRUE INDEED IS MY TRUE LOVE,
20
WE WILL BEWED TODAY.
JUST TELL ME YOU'LL PERFORM THE RITE,
TODAY WITHOUT DELAY!
LAURENCE: NOW WHOA, SLOW DOWN, IMPETUOUS ONE,
YOU'LL MARRY ROSALINE?
ROMEO: THAT'S OLD NEWS, FRIAR LAURENCE,
I'VE GOT A BRAND NEW LINE.
I KNOW YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT,
BUT IT'S TRUE! YOU WANNA BET?
MY HEART'S SET ON THE DAUGHTER OF -
YOU GUESSED IT - CAPULET!
LAURENCE: HOLY SAINT FRANCIS! ARE YOU INDEED INSANE?
YOUR PA'S GREATEST ENEMY!
YOU'VE BEEN UNDER QUITE A STRAIN!
THINK OF THE SCANDAL!
THE STREETS ALL FULL OF FIGHT!
ROMEO: O, BUT THINK OF ALL THE BEAUTY
WHEN WE GET IT RIGHT.
FORGET WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD
AND FORGET ALL THAT YOU KNOW,
FOR WE ARE TRULY DEEP IN LOVE
AND IT'S ALL SYSTEMS GO!
21
LAURENCE: OKAY, MY YOUNG WAVERER,
HERE'S WHAT I WILL DO
TO MAKE YOUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH JULIET COME TRUE.
PERHAPS WHEN ALL YOUR PARENTS
SEE YOU TWO ARE IN LOVE
THEY WILL BURY THE HATCHET
AND BE MORE LIKE THE DOVE.
SCENE NINE
NARRATOR: HIGH NOON IN VERONA, PARDON ME,
IT IS HIGH NINE.
A HOT SUMMER DAY,
BUT ROMEO IS FINE.
HE WAITS FOR HER MESSENGER,
BRINGING HIM THE NEWS.
TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY
THAT HE'S ENDED ALL HIS BLUES.
NURSE: I'M LOOKING FOR ROMEO
TO BRING HIM A NOTE
ALTHOUGH WHAT I'M BRINGING
DOES STICK IN MY THROAT.
ROMEO: I'M THE YOUNGEST OF THAT NAME

Romeo and Juliet

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Romeo and Juliet, In Short

A "Shortened Shakespeare Script

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