Analysis of the Ways in Which Different Directors have Produced the First Meeting of Romeo and Juliet

Analysis of the Ways in Which Different Directors have Produced the First Meeting of Romeo and Juliet

"Romeo and Juliet", undoubtedly one of Shakespeare's most famous and

loved plays, has been produced by many directors again and again over

the last 400 years. Those directors, who dare to take on such an

astounding play, have to deal with this sensitively enough to keep the

passion alive, especially throughout the sonnet. Two directors who

have accepted the challenge to are Baz Luhrmann in 1997 and the BBC

School's version. In my personal opinion, Baz Luhrmann's version was a

great success, appealing to teenagers and adults alike, showing the

passion and romance of this beautiful tragedy throughout it all. But

on the other hand, the BBC School's version, which was originally

intended solely for education purposes, is an extremely insipid

composition and included no romance or passion, all of which I felt

was an insult to Shakespeare. These two versions will be analysed by

focusing and commenting on these features; setting, costume, camera

shots, delivery of lines and music.

Firstly, the use of costume is particularly emphatic and effective in

Baz Luhrmann's amazing 1997 production. Baz Luhrmann has used his own

personal genius with the costumes, using Shakespeare's original

directions of masks, but also upgrading them to fancy dress costumes.

This device though it was very simple, is powerfully effective and

provokes sublime-style messages to the audience, through its

symbolism. Juliet, for example, is dressed as an Angel. Being dressed

this way, stimulates the audience into believing Juliet is innocent,

pure, virginal and heavenly....

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...n, directed by Baz Luhrmann,

achieved such a great response from the public because of his talented

use of costume, setting and music. Of course the actors played a part

in the delivery of lines and such, causing more success. Baz Luhrmann

reminded us throughout the scene, of the beauty of the play and how

the love between Romeo and Juliet was forever blossoming till death

divided them. The BBC School's version, which was not as successful,

was aimed purely for educational purposes, which is probably why it

was not up to Baz Luhrmann's standard [Luhrmann's was created solely

for entertainment]. The BBC School's director did not do very well in

most features, especially music, delivery of lines and setting. Baz

Luhrmann had a bigger budget and was a more experienced director,

which helped for creating the amazing scene.