After Juliet
Encyclopedia
After Juliet is a play that was written by Scottish
playwright Sharman Macdonald
. It was commissioned for the 1999 NT
Shell Connections programme, in which regional youth theatre groups compete to stage short plays by established playwrights.
The basic premise of the play, following on from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
is "What happened to the Capulets and Montagues after Romeo and Juliet died". The setting of After Juliet is described as "Verona
. Or it could be Edinburgh
, Dublin, Birmingham
, New York
, or Liverpool
. It could be 1500, 1900, 2000, or 3000". The only place that After Juliet cannot be set is Glasgow
, as one of the characters, Rhona, is from Glasgow, and away from home.
Macdonald's daughter, Keira Knightley
appeared Heatham House Youth Centre's NT Connections production, which made the regional finals.
It continues to be performed by youth groups all over the world.
, Juliet's cousin and Romeo's ex-flame. Ironically, Rosaline had been in love with Romeo, but was Playing "hard to get" Tortured by the loss of her love, Rosaline has become a sullen, venomous woman. She actively seeks to be elected the 'Princess of Cats' and run the Capulet family.
Meanwhile, the Capulets and Montagues have obeyed Prince Escalus and called a truce. The treaty quickly descends into a farce as both sides continue to rage against each other. Amid the turmoil more doomed love springs- between Benvolio Montague
and Rosaline. Benvolio is warned by Valentine (Mercutio's twin brother) to stay away from her if he knows what's right.
The climax of the play comes during an election to determine whether or not Rosaline or Petruchio (Tybalt's brother) will succeed Tybalt as Prince or Princess of Cats. The election fails to have any results and the fate of the truce is left open ended.
A 2009 youth, stage version of the show featured Valentine as the twin sister of Mercutio; this added an extra storyline where Valentine is in love with Benvolio
and is jealous of Rosaline
. Benvolio's final scene ends with Valentine running off stage after his rejection.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
playwright Sharman Macdonald
Sharman Macdonald
Sharman Macdonald is a Scottish playwright, screenwriter, and former actress. She is the mother of Academy Award-nominee Keira Knightley.-Career:...
. It was commissioned for the 1999 NT
Royal National Theatre
The Royal National Theatre in London is one of the United Kingdom's two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company...
Shell Connections programme, in which regional youth theatre groups compete to stage short plays by established playwrights.
The basic premise of the play, following on from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
is "What happened to the Capulets and Montagues after Romeo and Juliet died". The setting of After Juliet is described as "Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
. Or it could be Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Dublin, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, or Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. It could be 1500, 1900, 2000, or 3000". The only place that After Juliet cannot be set is Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, as one of the characters, Rhona, is from Glasgow, and away from home.
Macdonald's daughter, Keira Knightley
Keira Knightley
Keira Christina Knightley born 26 March 1985) is an English actress and model. She began acting as a child and came to international notice in 2002 after co-starring in the film Bend It Like Beckham...
appeared Heatham House Youth Centre's NT Connections production, which made the regional finals.
It continues to be performed by youth groups all over the world.
Plot
The play centres around RosalineRosaline
Rosaline is an unseen character and niece of Capulet in William Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet . Although silent, her role is important. Romeo is at first deeply in love with Rosaline and expresses her cruelty for not loving him back...
, Juliet's cousin and Romeo's ex-flame. Ironically, Rosaline had been in love with Romeo, but was Playing "hard to get" Tortured by the loss of her love, Rosaline has become a sullen, venomous woman. She actively seeks to be elected the 'Princess of Cats' and run the Capulet family.
Meanwhile, the Capulets and Montagues have obeyed Prince Escalus and called a truce. The treaty quickly descends into a farce as both sides continue to rage against each other. Amid the turmoil more doomed love springs- between Benvolio Montague
Benvolio
Benvolio Montague is a fictional character in William Shakespeare's drama Romeo and Juliet.-Sources:In 1554, Matteo Bandello published the second volume of his Novelle which included his version of Giuletta e Romeo. Bandello emphasises Romeo's initial depression and the feud between the families,...
and Rosaline. Benvolio is warned by Valentine (Mercutio's twin brother) to stay away from her if he knows what's right.
The climax of the play comes during an election to determine whether or not Rosaline or Petruchio (Tybalt's brother) will succeed Tybalt as Prince or Princess of Cats. The election fails to have any results and the fate of the truce is left open ended.
A 2009 youth, stage version of the show featured Valentine as the twin sister of Mercutio; this added an extra storyline where Valentine is in love with Benvolio
Benvolio
Benvolio Montague is a fictional character in William Shakespeare's drama Romeo and Juliet.-Sources:In 1554, Matteo Bandello published the second volume of his Novelle which included his version of Giuletta e Romeo. Bandello emphasises Romeo's initial depression and the feud between the families,...
and is jealous of Rosaline
Rosaline
Rosaline is an unseen character and niece of Capulet in William Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet . Although silent, her role is important. Romeo is at first deeply in love with Rosaline and expresses her cruelty for not loving him back...
. Benvolio's final scene ends with Valentine running off stage after his rejection.
Quotes
- Rosaline: Alive,/ I could have fought to regain his love./ I could have fought./ I would have won./ A heart that's fickle and can turn/ Would be fickle still/ And turn again.
- Valentine: She's a better man than Tybalt ever was, or Petruchio will ever be give, her a sword she'd show you no mercy.
- Valentine: There's better fish in the sea than ever came out of it!
Dramatis Personae
- Benvolio, a Montague, Romeo’s best friend and cousin
- Valentine, Mercutio’s twin brother
- Rosaline, a Capulet, Juliet’s cousin
- Bianca, suffers from petit mal, Juliet’s cousin
- Helena a Capulet, Bianca’s sister, Juliet’s cousin
- Rhona, a Capulet, a visitor from abroad, Juliet’s cousin
- Alice, a Capulet, Juliet’s cousin
- Livia, a Capulet, Rosaline’s half-sister, Juliet’s cousin
- Angelica, a Capulet servant, Juliet’s nurse
- Lorenzo, a Capulet
- Gianni, a Capulet, friend/brother to Lorenzo
- Petruchio, a Capulet, Tybalt’s brother
- Romeo, a dead Montague (non-speaking)
- Juliet, a dead Capulet
- Drummer, ever present, menacing, a puppeteer of the action
- Musicians
External links
- A gallery of pictures from After Juliet at Arkansas State UniversityArkansas State UniversityArkansas State University is a public university and is the flagship campus of the Arkansas State University System, the state's second largest college system and third largest university by enrollment. It is located atop on Crowley's Ridge at Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA...