act 1 scene 1 Benvolio and Tybalt R6 Understanding character


Benvolio and Tybalt are contrasting characters. You can fi nd evidence for this from both their words and their actions.


Benvolio à a peacemaker à stops the fi ght


PART, FOOLS! PUT UP YOUR SWORDS


Tybalt à angry, violent, aggressive


à gets everyone fi ghting again The Fight R6 Understanding action


This scene is an opportunity for the director to create a very powerful dramatic moment, fi lling the stage with the excitement of the swordfi ght and the sudden arrival of important characters. Theme is a central idea or subject that runs through the story, e.g. love, confl ict, family or fate.


STAGECRAFT: CREATE DRAMATIC EFFECT


PEACE! I HATE THE WORD


I HATE … ALL MONTAGUES


W o


Using the photo of a thrust stage below, imagine how this fi ght scene might be staged. Create a dramatic eff ect by your imaginative positioning of Benvolio and the swordfi ghters, and with the arrival of each new character. Imagine the audience in diff erent parts of the auditorium looking at the fi ght and the arrival on stage of the Montagues, the Capulets and the Prince. Complete the exercise on page 4 of your Portfolio, positioning the characters on the stage. Add some suggestions for each character, e.g.:


à Where are Sampson and Gregory chatting at the beginning of the scene? Downstage? Upstage? Stage right? Stage left?


à Where do Abraham and Balthasar appear from? The back of the auditorium? Along one of the catwalks?


à In what area of the stage could the fi ght happen? à Where should Benvolio come onto stage? How does


he ‘strike down’ the swords?


à Where should Tybalt blast in from? Remember, he should have his sword drawn, ready to attack Benvolio and get the fi ght going again.


à Where would you position the Prince? The Montagues? The Capulets?


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