Baz Luhrmann's Interpretation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

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Baz Luhrmann's Interpretation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' was first performed on stage at the

Globe Theatre, South London, in 1597. More recently the modern film

interpretations, by Franco Zeffirelli in 1968, and Baz Luhrmann in

1997, have been viewed by thousands. 'Romeo and Juliet' is truly one

of the greatest tales of all time, for it can still entertain an

audience of all ages and stun them into silence, with its clever

script and gripping plot.

Admittedly the romantic tragedy of 'two star crossed lovers' has been

used to such an extent in a variety of stories such as West Side

Story, that it is now considered a cliché. Yet despite this, the story

of 'Romeo and Juliet' is still incredibly popular and easily grips a

modern audiences. Set in the 13th century, Shakespeare's 'Romeo and

Juliet' is a story of two lovers, who, because of the hatred between

their families, which goes back generations, can never be together.

Their 'only love sprung from their only hate' leads to the tragic

deaths of the two teenagers, and, ironically, the reconciliation of

their families, the Montagues, and the Capulets.

When Shakespeare wrote this play, it was to be performed on an 'Apron

stage', and by the nature of such an Elizabethan stage, this caused

several problems . Not only were the curtains unable to be closed at

the end of a scene or act, but since it was essentially an open-air

stage, it could not be hidden in darkness. This meant that anything

such as time or setting had to be conveyed to the audience through the

words in script.

There was also the problem that at the time it was against the ...

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...nd fish

tank contrast greatly with the baron, dry land of Mantua and the heat

of the city. The liquids represent freedom that seems real yet is

contained by solid boundries, and the feelings and emotions that are

running high in all the turmoil. Dryness, the opposite of this, gives

the feeling of being restricted and starved of an important substance.

Luhrmann does not appear to have fashioned this film with the elitist

Shakespeare 'Purist' in mind. Instead by using lively modern imagery,

mixed with a rock sound track, Lurmann has made 'Romeo and Juliet'

come alive again, except this time with an appeal to a much wider

audience than would have been expected. I believe that Luhrmann has

achieved what he set out to do, which is re-create the classic story

in the way he thinks that Shakespeare might, was he alive today.

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