Romeo and Juliet–Part Two (photo heavy)

The festivities of the evening have whipped up a distinct chemistry between Mercutio and Benvolio. After the party, as they are looking for Romeo in the wee hours of the night, Mercutio knocks Benvolio onto his back and goes off onto a madcap rant–still making fun of Romeo: “….I conjure thee by Rosiline’s bright eyes, by her high forehead and her scarlet lip, by her fine foot, straight leg, and quivering thigh…”

This heated parlay nearly scares Benvolio to death—but he reconsiders as he suddenly sees Mercutio in a different light….Mercutio slyly says: “This field-bed is too cold for me to sleep. Come, shall we go?”

Romeo climbs the garden wall and sees Juliet on her balcony. “But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the sun!…..see how she leans her face upon her hand! O, that I were a glove upon that hand that I might touch that cheek!”

Juliet, talking to the stars, says: “Romeo, doff thy name; and for that name, which is no part of thee, take all myself.”

Romeo, hearing all this is totally undone and cannot help but climb up to her balcony where they profess their love: “Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear….” Juliet: “O, swear not by the moon, th’ inconstant moon, that monthly changes in her circled orb, lest thy love prove likewise variable.”

“…swear by thy gracious self which is the god of my idolatry, and I’ll believe thee.”

“Goodnight, goodnight! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say goodnight till it be morrow.”

Romeo heads off to find Friar Lawrence to tell him of the news that he and Juliet want to be married. Friar Lawrence: “In one respect I’ll thy assistant be: for this alliance may so happy prove to turn your household’s rancour to pure love.”

The next day, Juliets Nurse and servant Pedra go out to find Romeo and give him a message from Juliet. The nurse is mercilessly teased by Romeo, Benvolio and Mercutio. (Very funny moments when the nurse keeps swatting at everyone with her fan, Pedras bread is stolen, and when she is not invited to hear the secret messages, she sits down in a snit and eats the bread). Nurse: “Now, afore God, I am so vex’d that every part about me quivers!” Romeo: “Bid [Juliet] devise some means to come to shrift this afternoon, and there she shall at Friar Lawrence’s cell be shriv’d and married….”

And then Romeo and Juliet are married secretly.

Continued……..