romeo and juliet act 5 essay

Romeo and Juliet

William shakespeare, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

Romeo and Juliet: Introduction

Romeo and juliet: plot summary, romeo and juliet: detailed summary & analysis, romeo and juliet: themes, romeo and juliet: quotes, romeo and juliet: characters, romeo and juliet: symbols, romeo and juliet: literary devices, romeo and juliet: quizzes, romeo and juliet: theme wheel, brief biography of william shakespeare.

Historical Context of Romeo and Juliet

Other books related to romeo and juliet.

• Full Title: Romeo and Juliet
• When Written: Likely 1591-1595
• Where Written: London, England
• When Published: “Bad quarto” (incomplete manuscript) printed in 1597; Second, more complete quarto printed in 1599; First folio, with clarifications and corrections, printed in 1623
• Literary Period: Renaissance
• Genre: Tragic play
• Setting: Verona, Italy
• Climax: Mistakenly believing that Juliet is dead, Romeo kills himself on her funeral bier by drinking poison. Juliet wakes up, finds Romeo dead, and fatally stabs herself with his dagger.
• Antagonist: Capulet, Lady Capulet, Montague, Lady Montague, Tybalt

Extra Credit for Romeo and Juliet

Tourist Trap. Casa di Giulietta, a 12-century villa in Verona, is located just off the Via Capello (the possible origin of the anglicized surname “Capulet”) and has become a major tourist attraction over the years because of its distinctive balcony. The house, purchased by the city of Verona in 1905 from private holdings, has been transformed into a kind of museum dedicated to the history of Romeo and Juliet , where tourists can view set pieces from some of the major film adaptations of the play and even leave letters to their loved ones. Never mind that “the balcony scene,” one of the most famous scenes in English literature, may never have existed—the word “balcony” never appears in the play, and balconies were not an architectural feature of Shakespeare’s England—tourists flock from all over to glimpse Juliet’s famous veranda.

Love Language. While much of Shakespeare’s later work is written in a combination of verse and prose (used mostly to offer distinction between social classes, with nobility speaking in verse and commoners speaking in prose), Romeo and Juliet is notable for its heady blend of poetic forms. The play’s prologue is written in the form of a sonnet, while most of the dialogue adheres strictly to the rhythm of iambic pentameter. Romeo and Juliet alter their cadences when speaking to each another, using more casual, naturalistic speech. When they talk about other potential lovers, such as Rosaline and Paris, their speech is much more formal (to reflect the emotional falsity of those dalliances.) Friar Laurence speaks largely in sermons and aphorisms, while the nurse speaks in blank verse.

Pardon Our Interruption

As you were browsing something about your browser made us think you were a bot. There are a few reasons this might happen:

• You've disabled JavaScript in your web browser.
• You're a power user moving through this website with super-human speed.
• You've disabled cookies in your web browser.
• A third-party browser plugin, such as Ghostery or NoScript, is preventing JavaScript from running. Additional information is available in this support article .

To regain access, please make sure that cookies and JavaScript are enabled before reloading the page.

Website navigation

Romeo and Juliet - Act 5, scene 3

Download romeo and juliet.

Last updated: Fri, Jul 31, 2015

• PDF Download as PDF
• DOC (for MS Word, Apple Pages, Open Office, etc.) without line numbers Download as DOC (for MS Word, Apple Pages, Open Office, etc.) without line numbers
• DOC (for MS Word, Apple Pages, Open Office, etc.) with line numbers Download as DOC (for MS Word, Apple Pages, Open Office, etc.) with line numbers
• HTML Download as HTML
• TXT Download as TXT
• XML Download as XML
• TEISimple XML (annotated with MorphAdorner for part-of-speech analysis) Download as TEISimple XML (annotated with MorphAdorner for part-of-speech analysis)

Navigate this work

Act 5, scene 3.

Paris visits Juliet’s tomb and, when Romeo arrives, challenges him. Romeo and Paris fight and Paris is killed. Romeo, in the tomb, takes poison, dying as he kisses Juliet. As Friar Lawrence enters the tomb, Juliet awakes to find Romeo lying dead. Frightened by a noise, the Friar flees the tomb. Juliet kills herself with Romeo’s dagger. Alerted by Paris’s page, the watch arrives and finds the bodies. When the Prince, the Capulets, and Montague arrive, Friar Lawrence gives an account of the marriage of Romeo and Juliet. Their deaths lead Montague and Capulet to declare that the families’ hostility is at an end.

Stay connected

Find out what’s on, read our latest stories, and learn how you can get involved.

Romeo and Juliet

By william shakespeare, romeo and juliet essay questions.

In what way do Romeo and Juliet break gender conventions? How do these roles fluctuate throughout the play?

At the beginning of the play, the young lovers' behavior reverses common gender conventions – Romeo acts in a way that his friends call feminine, while Juliet exhibits masculine qualities. Romeo is by no means an archetypal Elizabethan man; he is disinterested in asserting his physical power like the other male characters in the play. Instead, Romeo chooses to stew in his pensive melancholy. On several instances, Romeo's companions suggest that his introspective behavior is effeminate. On the other hand, Juliet exhibits a more pronounced sense of agency than most female characters in Shakespeare's time. While the women around her, like her mother, blindly act in accordance with Lord Capulet's wishes, Juliet proudly expresses her opinion. Even when she has lost a battle (like when Lord Capulet insists she consider marrying Paris), she demonstrates a shrewd ability to deflect attention without committing to anything. In her relationship with Romeo, Juliet clearly takes the lead by insisting on marriage and proposing the plan to unite them. As the play progresses, Romeo starts to break out of his pensive inaction to the point that Mercutio notices this change. Romeo also makes a great shift from his cowardly attempt at suicide in Act III to his willful decision in Act V. Overall, Romeo and Juliet are arguably a good match because they are so distinct. Juliet is headstrong, while Romeo is passive until passion strikes and inspires him to action.

Contrast Romeo's attempted suicide in Act 3 with his actual suicide in Act 5. How do these two events reveal changes in his character and an evolving view of death?

Romeo considers suicide in both Act 3 and Act 5. In Act 3, Romeo's desire to take his own life is a cowardly response to his grief over killing Tybalt. He is afraid of the consequences of his actions and would rather escape the world entirely than face losing Juliet. Both Friar Laurence and the Nurse criticize Romeo for his weakness and lack of responsibility - taking the knife from his hands. In contrast, Romeo actually does commit suicide in Act V because he sees no other option. He plans for it, seeking out the Apothecary before leaving Mantua, and kills himself out of solidarity with Juliet, not because he is afraid. While suicide is hardly a defensible action, Romeo's dual attempts to take his life reveal his growing maturity and his strengthened moral resolve.

Several characters criticize Romeo for falling in love too quickly. Do you believe this is true? Does his tendency towards infatuation give the audience occasion to question Romeo's affection for Juliet?

This question obviously asks for a student opinion, but there is evidence to support both sides of the argument. In Act 2, Friar Laurence states his opinion that Romeo does indeed fall in love too quickly. Romeo is arguably in love with being in love more than he is in love with any particular woman. The speed with which his affections shift from Rosaline to Juliet – all before he ever exchanges a word with the latter – suggests that Romeo's feelings of 'love' are closer to lust than commitment. This interpretation is supported by the numerous sexual references in the play, which are even interwoven with religious imagery in Romeo and Juliet's first conversation. However, it also possible to argue that Romeo's lust does not invalidate the purity of his love. Romeo and Juliet celebrates young, passionate love, which includes physical lust. Furthermore, whereas Romeo was content to pine for Rosaline from afar, his love for Juliet forces him to spring into action. He is melancholy over Rosaline, but he is willing to die for Juliet. Therefore, a possible reading is that Romeo and Juliet's relationship might have been sparked by physical attraction, but it grew into a deep, spiritual connection.

Examine the contrast between order and disorder in Romeo and Juliet . How does Shakespeare express this dichotomy through symbols, and how do those motifs help to underline the other major themes in the play?

The contrast between order and disorder appears from the Prologue, where the Chorus tells a tragic story using the ordered sonnet form. From that point onwards, the separation between order and disorder is a common theme. Ironically, violence and disorder occurs in bright daylight, while the serenity of love emerges at night. The relationship between Romeo and Juliet is uncomplicated without the disorderly feud between their families, which has taken over the streets of Verona. The contrast between order and disorder underscores the way that Shakespeare presents love - a safe cocoon in which the lovers can separate themselves from the unpredictable world around them. At the end of the play, it becomes clear that a relationship based on pure love cannot co-exist with human weaknesses like greed and jealousy.

Many critics note a tonal inconsistency in Romeo and Juliet . Do you find the shift in tone that occurs after Mercutio's death to be problematic? Does this shift correspond to an established structural tradition or is it simply one of Shakespeare's whims?

After the Prologue until the point where Mercutio dies in Act III, Romeo and Juliet is mostly a comic romance. After Mercutio dies, the nature of the play suddenly shifts into tragedy. It is possible that this extreme shift is merely the product of Shakespeare's whims, especially because the play has many other asides that are uncharacteristic of either comedy or tragedy. For example, Mercutio's Queen Mab speech is dreamy and poetic, while the Nurse's colorful personality gives her more dimension than functional characters generally require. However, it is also possible to see the parallels between this tonal shift and the play's thematic contrast between order and disorder. Shakespeare frequently explored the human potential for both comedy and tragedy in his plays, and it is possible that in Romeo and Juliet , he wanted to explore the transition from youthful whimsy into the complications of adulthood. From this perspective, the play's unusual structure could represent a journey to maturity. Romeo grows from a petulant teenager who believes he can ignore the world around him to a man who accepts the fact that his actions have consequences.

Eminent literary critic Harold Bloom considers Mercutio to be one of Shakespeare's greatest inventions in Romeo and Juliet . Why do you agree or disagree with him? What sets Mercutio apart?

One of Shakespeare's great dramatic talents is his ability to portray functional characters as multi-faceted individuals. Mercutio, for example, could have served a simple dramatic function, helping the audience get to know Romeo in the early acts. Then, his death in Act 3 is a crucial plot point in the play, heightening the stakes and forcing Romeo to make a life-changing decision. Mercutio barely appears in Arthur Brooke's Romeus and Juliet , which Romeo and Juliet is based on. Therefore, Shakespeare made a point of fleshing out the character. In Mercutio's Queen Mab speech, Shakespeare has the opportunity to truly delve into the bizarre and often dangerous sexual nature of love. Further, Mercutio's insight as he dies truly expresses the horrors of revenge, as he declares a plague on both the Montague and Capulet families. He is the first casualty of their feud - and because he transcends functionality, the audience mourns his untimely death and can relate to Romeo's capricious revenge.

How does Shakespeare use symbols of gold and silver throughout the play? What does each element represent?

Shakespeare uses gold and silver as symbols to criticize human folly. He often invokes the image of silver to symbolize pure love and innocent beauty. On the other hand, he uses gold as a sign of greed or desire. For example, Shakespeare describes Rosaline as immune to showers of gold, an image that symbolizes the selfishness of bribery. Later, when Romeo is banished, he comments that banishment is a "golden axe," meaning that banishment is merely a shiny euphemism for death. Finally, the erection of the golden statues at the end of the play is a sign of the fact that neither Lord Capulet nor Lord Montague has really learned anything from the loss of their children. They are still competing to claim the higher level of grief. Romeo, however, recognizes the power of gold and rejects it - through him, Shakespeare suggests a distinction between a world governed by wealth and the cocoon of true love.

Do a character analysis of Friar Laurence. What motivates him? In what ways does this motivation complicate his character?

Friar Laurence is yet another character who transcends his functional purpose. When Romeo first approaches the Friar to plan his marriage to Juliet, the older man questions the young man's sincerity, since Romeo openly pined for Rosaline only a few days before. However, the Friar shows a willingness to compromise by agreeing to marry the young lovers nevertheless. What ultimately motivates Friar Laurence is his desire to end the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues, and he sees Romeo and Juliet's marriage as a means to that end. While his peaceful intentions are admirable, his devious actions to achieve them – conducting a marriage that he explicitly questions – suggests he is more driven by politics than by an internal moral compass. The fact that a religious figure would compromise one of the Church's sacraments (marriage) further suggests that the Friar wants his power to extend beyond the confines of his Chapel. He also displays his hubris by helping Juliet to fake her death, rather than simply helping her get to Mantua to be with Romeo. While Friar Laurence is not an explicit villain, his internal contradictions speak to Shakespeare's ability to create multi-faceted characters.

Should Romeo and Juliet be considered a classical tragedy (in which fate destroys individuals)? Or is it more a tragedy of circumstance and personality? Moreover, could the tragic ending of Romeo and Juliet have been avoided?

In classical tragedy, an individual is defeated by Fate, despite his or her best efforts to change a pre-determined course of events. A classical tragedy both celebrates an individual's willpower while lamenting the fact that the universe cannot be bested by mankind. The tragic elements in Romeo and Juliet are undeniable - two young lovers want nothing more than to be together and fall victim to an ancient feud and rigid societal conventions. However, while Romeo and Juliet's deaths result from human folly, the immovable power of fate also has a hand in sealing their destinies. For instance, Romeo and Juliet had many opportunities to simply run away together instead of being separated after Romeo is banished from Verona. Furthermore, many of the tragic occurrences are contingent on antagonistic characters running into one another, and then choosing to pursue vengeance rather than simply walk away. Based on this evidence, it is possible to read Shakespeare's intent as suggesting that behavioral adjustment can often prevent tragic events.

How is Romeo and Juliet a criticism of organized religion? Examine the play's secularism to develop your answer.

While Romeo and Juliet does not present explicit attacks against religion, Shakespeare reveals his skepticism of Christianity in subtle ways. In many ways, Romeo and Juliet must reject the tenets of Christianity in order to be together. In their first meeting, they banter, using religious imagery to share their sexual feelings. In this exchange, the lovers acknowledge the omnipresence of Christianity, but cheekily use religious images in an unexpected context. Further, Christian tradition would have required Juliet to submit to her father's desire, but instead, she manipulates his expectations to distract him from her real agenda. Even Friar Laurence, an explicitly religious figure, uses Christianity as a tool towards his own ends. In this way, the play implicitly suggests that the rigid rules of religion often work in opposition to the desires of the heart - and to pursue true happiness, one must throw off the shackles of organized faith.

Romeo and Juliet Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Romeo and Juliet is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Can you find verbal irony in the play? Where?

One example of verbal irony would be Romeo's reference to the poison he has purchased as a "sweet medicine". A cordial is a sweet liquor or medicine.

Come, cordial and not poison, go with me To Juliet's grave; for there must I use thee.

What do we learn about Mercutio in queen man speech?

The whole speech is based on pagan Celtic mythology. Mercutio’s speech is laced with sexual innuendo. The words “queen” and “mab” refer to whores in Elizabethan England. As his speech goes on we notice the subtext get increasingly sexual...

What does Romeo fear as he approaches Capulet house? What literary device would this be an example of?

Romeo feels something bad is going to happen.

I fear too early, for my mind misgives Some consequence yet hanging in the stars

Looks like foreshadowing to me!

Study Guide for Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet study guide contains a biography of William Shakespeare, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Romeo and Juliet
• Romeo and Juliet Summary
• Romeo and Juliet Video
• Character List

Essays for Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.

• Unity in Shakespeare's Tragedies
• Fate in Romeo and Juliet
• Romeo and Juliet: Under the Guise of Love
• The Apothecary's Greater Significance in Romeo and Juliet
• Romeo and Juliet: Two Worlds

Lesson Plan for Romeo and Juliet

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Romeo and Juliet
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Romeo and Juliet Bibliography

E-Text of Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet e-text contains the full text of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.

• List of Characters

Wikipedia Entries for Romeo and Juliet

• Introduction
• Date and text

Enduring Love and Tragedy in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

This essay about William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” examines the play’s enduring appeal through its exploration of passionate love familial conflict and the role of fate. It highlights the deep connection between Romeo and Juliet the destructive impact of their families’ feud and the inevitable tragic end foreshadowed from the start. The analysis also discusses the significance of supporting characters and Shakespeare’s masterful use of language which together contribute to the timeless relevance and emotional resonance of this classic tragedy.

How it works

William Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet caught hearts amphitheatres in one flow from centuries upright so as one appears quintessence a tragic example romance. Move a city Verona history jeu fairy-tale story two jeune lovers high whose tragic end brings original appearance over the world despite their warring families. Written over four_hundred years ago themes love conflict and continue a fate creature marks distinguishes Shakespeare deeply understands emotions and terms human.

Kernel Romeo and Juliet is the nearest connection and hot between Romeo Montague and Juliet capulet.

From them he more first sits their obligation some outstrips bitter feud between their families. Shakespeare captivates essence they vortical romance with a language and striking imagery prosperous poetic decorates intensity and urgency love youth. Place action famous balcony epitomizes their deep connection erects the facade of shop authority and cleanness brute their emotions. Through this acharné love things hollow Shakespeare in yields processing and nature love the often spoiled true. After attachment history Romeo and Juliet is research a slaughter force a conflict deep. Longstanding feud between Montagues and capulets places a stadium for lovers’ the devoted fate distinguishes destroyer influence one put on an anchor he unfriendliness. A thick street battles and quick as lightning duels distinguish a culture piercing violence with characters in manner from Tybalt incarnates pernicious contraignent an unexperienced unfriendliness. Image Shakespeare this fight serves criticism norms that immortalize violence social offers that only concordance and understands can force way despite the durable world.

A fate too frisks an in critical role story conducts characters in setting they imminent tragic end. From the same beginning informed done amphitheatre that Romeo and Juliet “unhappy” intended for a calamity. This theme the nearest fate leaks a game with numerous mentions despite a fate success and luminaries. Shakespeare adroitly hires drama irony to increase these things because an amphitheatre remains high informé from a tragedy that characters the nearest future no can see for a moment the nearest. Tension between a fate and fluently is is a central leit-motif invites a discussion on an extent despite that types can manage their fates.

The supporting characters in Romeo and Juliet add further richness to the story each playing a significant role in the unfolding drama. Mercutio with his sharp wit and cynical view of love provides a stark contrast to Romeo’s idealistic nature offering different perspectives on love and honor. The Nurse and Friar Lawrence though well-meaning inadvertently contribute to the tragic outcome underscoring that even good intentions can lead to catastrophic consequences. Through these characters Shakespeare examines the complexities of human relationships and the profound influence of external factors on personal choices.

Moreover Romeo and Juliet is celebrated for its linguistic brilliance with Shakespeare’s masterful use of wordplay metaphor and verse enhancing the play’s lasting appeal. The dialogue is rich with puns and double meanings adding depth and emotional resonance to the text. The poetic structure particularly the use of iambic pentameter gives the language a rhythmic and musical quality making the lines memorable and impactful. This stylistic elegance highlights Shakespeare’s unparalleled command of the English language and his ability to convey intricate emotions through simple yet powerful words.

In conclusion Romeo and Juliet endures as a timeless masterpiece due to its universal themes multifaceted characters and linguistic beauty. Shakespeare’s exploration of love conflict and fate continues to captivate audiences offering insights into the human experience that remain profoundly relevant. The play’s tragic conclusion while heartbreaking serves as a poignant reminder of the destructive consequences of hatred and the redemptive power of love. Reflecting on the enduring legacy of Romeo and Juliet we are reminded of Shakespeare’s timeless genius and the lasting impact of his work on literature and culture.

Cite this page

Enduring Love and Tragedy in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. (2024, Jul 06). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/enduring-love-and-tragedy-in-shakespeares-romeo-and-juliet/

"Enduring Love and Tragedy in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet." PapersOwl.com , 6 Jul 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/enduring-love-and-tragedy-in-shakespeares-romeo-and-juliet/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Enduring Love and Tragedy in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/enduring-love-and-tragedy-in-shakespeares-romeo-and-juliet/ [Accessed: 13 Jul. 2024]

"Enduring Love and Tragedy in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet." PapersOwl.com, Jul 06, 2024. Accessed July 13, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/enduring-love-and-tragedy-in-shakespeares-romeo-and-juliet/

"Enduring Love and Tragedy in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet," PapersOwl.com , 06-Jul-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/enduring-love-and-tragedy-in-shakespeares-romeo-and-juliet/. [Accessed: 13-Jul-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Enduring Love and Tragedy in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/enduring-love-and-tragedy-in-shakespeares-romeo-and-juliet/ [Accessed: 13-Jul-2024]

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs.

Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+!

Please check your inbox.

You can order an original essay written according to your instructions.

Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers

COMING SOON: A NEW BOOK SHOWCASING 50 YEARS OF THE READER

Chicago Reader

Chicago’s alternative nonprofit newsroom

An intense and memorable Romeo & Juliet

Share this:.

• Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Usually in productions of Romeo & Juliet , the craziest character in the play is the clever, word-drunk, not-quite-right-in-his-head Mercutio. It is Mercutio, after all, who delivers that unhinged Queen Mab speech and then later in the play goads the most competent swordsman in the play—and the one with major anger issues—to a sword fight. In Oak Park Festival Theatre’s production, Lucas Prizant’s Mercutio is strong, likable in a goofy, sophomore-in-high-school kind of way, and not entirely in his right mind.  

Romeo & Juliet Through 8/17: Thu-Sat 8 PM, Sun 7 PM; also Wed 7/10, 7/24, and 8/7 8 PM; Austin Gardens, 167 Forest, Oak Park, oakparkfestival.com , $38 (seniors $28.50, industry $20, students $15, children 12 and under free)

But in this fast-paced, spellbinding production, directed by Oak Park Festival Theatre artistic director Peter G. Andersen, his mild neuroticism is nothing compared to the madness of Romeo Montague. In this production it is Romeo who is utterly off his rocker: quick to love, quick to kill, quick to make the wrong decision every time. Show me another character in the history of literature whose first act, after learning the love of his life is dead, is to buy a vial of poison—you know, just in case. Which is to say August Forman makes for a very singular Romeo: hot-blooded, skittish, socially awkward, neurotic, utterly unpredictable, reminiscent at once of James Dean and a young Gary Oldman. Whenever Forman appears on stage, you cannot take your eyes off them. 

This is not to say Forman is a stage hog. They clearly work hard to give focus to others on stage, intentionally stepping into the shadows and standing slightly behind the characters delivering their lines. But to no avail. They are Romeo. And wherever they go, there they are. Their Romeo is the charming bad boy. The force of nature, laying waste to everything in their path: fair Verona, the Capulets’ best-laid plans, and poor, smitten Juliet herself. 

The only character who has even a ghost of a chance on stage with Forman’s Romeo is Rachel Jones’s Juliet. Her Juliet, too, is different from your usual Juliet—and better. Jones doesn’t play Juliet as the protected princess, the annoyingly sweet girly girl, or the utterly amazed daddy’s girl. Her Juliet feels very contemporary: strong, slightly cynical, but openhearted. You can easily imagine her singing along with Sabrina Carpenter on TikTok: “Heartbreak is one thing, my ego’s another / I beg you, don’t embarrass me, motherfucker.” She is Nancy to Forman’s Sid. Their first kiss is a suicide pact. 

It should go without saying that when you have actors as strong as these two in the lead roles, the production is probably at least passably good. And in this case, the production is dazzling. Not every performance is as intense as those of Forman and Jones, but under Andersen’s capable direction, every actor feels right in their role. More importantly, everyone delivers Shakespeare’s wicked smart lines with clarity and power. This is indeed a production to make an English teacher proud. (This English teacher wishes school was still in session so he could drag all his best students to see this production.)

The show moves at a nice clip. It is a tightly plotted play to begin with, but everyone in the production performs with a speed and intensity that makes the story’s march from first kiss to the grave feel all the more riveting and inevitable—and ultimately shattering. It is hard not to wonder if opening night was all the more intense and faster than usual because of the threat of rain. Sunday’s opening night was preceded by hours of downpour in the afternoon, and it was not even clear that the 7 PM curtain would happen until 5:59 PM when the theater sent out an email saying “We Are Going Forward With Night’s [sic] Show. Fingers are crossed.” It was still drizzling minutes before curtain, but then it stopped and the sun even came out for a few moments before sunset.

I am glad it did. This production, like Forman’s Romeo, is the most interesting, intense, memorable version of Romeo & Juliet I have seen in a long time—singular and utterly original but also, oddly enough, faithful to its spirit.

More By Jack Helbig

The Physical Theater Festival turns 11

A honey of a show

Ain’t Misbehavin’ hits its stride at Drury Lane

Related stories.

Star-cross’d lovers by daylight

Short, sapphic, and stirring

A Midsummer with some twists

More in arts & culture.

Remembering Jonathan Wilson 1949-2024

Color rules at Color Factory Chicago

A tale of two cities

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil brings a funny, juicy spin to the story

Blank! The Musical builds a brand-new show each night

Naming our existential crises 

Reader recommends: theater & dance.

Reader reviews of Chicago theater, dance, comedy, and performance arts.

Community kitchen

Corduroy , clown style

Slapstick rom-com, Asian American style

Forging a path to forgiveness down Little Bear Ridge Road

Legacy, love, and hair

Qualia is an absorbing dystopic tale