Romeo and Juliet » (Abridged)

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was born in Stratford-upon-Avon where his father was a prosperous glover. His early life is obscure, but he married Anne Hathaway in 1682 with whom he had two children. By 1592 he was establishing himself in London, and over the next twenty years he wrote thirty-seven plays-and contributed to many more-was a prolific poet, and was taken up by several influential patrons. His Sonnets were first printed in 1609 by George Eld for Thomas Thorpe. The identity of Mr. W.H. to whom the Sonnets are dedicated remains a mystery, as does the identity of the aristocratic youth in the Sonnets and the enigmatic Dark Lady.

Romeo and Juliet with Michael Sheen and Kate Beckinsale in the title roles and supported by Fiona Shaw, Norman Rodway, David Bradley and Frances Barber.

John Warren Stewig

Gets inside the nature and motivations of these adult play characters some might think too remote from children's lives. —Winter 2000

Introduction vii

"A Pair of Star-crossed Lovers" vii

"The Fearful Passage of their Death-marked Love" ix

"These Violent Delights have Violent Ends" xi

About the Text xvi

Key Facts xxiii

Romeo and Juliet 1

Textual Notes 115

Scene-by-Scene Analysis 118

Romeo and Juliet in Performance: The RSC and Beyond 130

Four Centuries of Romeo and Juliet: An Overview 130

At the RSC 141

The Director's Cut: Interview with Michael Attenborough 157

David Tennant on Playing Romeo 166

Alexandra Gilbreath on Playing Juliet 173

Shakespeare's Career in the Theater 180

Beginnings 180

Playhouses 182

The Ensemble at Work 186

The King's Man 191

Shakespeare's Works: A Chronology 194

Further Reading and Viewing 197

References 200

Acknowledgments and Picture Credits 204