So Long As There's Verona
Peter Stephenson
So Long As There's Verona
Based on a traditional Italian tale
Peter Stephenson
Copyright 2011, 2012 Peter Stephenson
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Frequently Asked Questions
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For Lucy
So Long As There's Verona
Cast Of Characters
ESCALUS - the prince, quite serious, accepts the responsibility of his position, has to frequently rise above the typical man/woman to see the broader picture, which makes him a little lonely and one who is unable to join in, he is apart from everyone else.
PARIS - a dashing nobleman, kinsman to Escalus, a gentleman, a sword fighter, keen to find a wife, can come across as being a little bit oily, can sometimes get stressed a little too easily; an honourable man.
MERCUTIO - friend of Romeo, thinks fighting is the answer, but is not indiscriminate, feels he needs to demonstrate loyalty [that it's something which has to be constantly displayed], thinks he knows what ladies want, but he doesn't.
TYBALT - cousin to Juliet, very loyal to his family, misses fighting [as a solider] so much that he will actively seek fights and/or try to start them, sees things very much as black-and-white, but deep, deep down a good man.
JULIET - likes girlie things, but can't wait to be older like her mum, yet her mum is not the ideal role model (and Juliet knows this), dreams of true love and knows that she'll know it when it arrives, is excited by life and looks forward to the future.
NURSE - professionally qualified, has been looking after Juliet since Juliet was a baby. Now that Juliet is older doesn't have a major role any more, just another skivvy, but she does have her own servant (Peter), loves Juliet, but doesn't show it.
CAPULET - Juliet's dad, rich, given up work as he's earned so much, spends a lot of time thinking about food when he should be concentrating on other matters, is bossed around by Lady Capulet, holds a grudge against Montague "because that's how it's always been."
LADY CAPULET - Juliet's mum, quite bossy and quite cold, doesn't display much love for Juliet, has allowed others to bring Juliet up, deep down wants to find an opportunity to find love and affection, but keeps telling herself "it isn't for me."
SAMPSON - servant to Lord Capulet, thinks he works harder than his friend Gregory, sees everything as a major task and a burden to him, bit of a chip on his shoulder.
GREGORY - servant to Lord Capulet, works hard, although has a better attitude to work than his friend Sampson, Gregory's motto: work has to be done, so do it then relax.
PETER - servant to Nurse, tends to agree with Nurse, wants to get on, but has an unfortunate way of displaying it including being a little bit creepy at times, very interested in cottage crafts.
BENVOLIO - cousin to Romeo and Romeo's best friend, has seen his fair share of fighting and is now wise to how goals may be achieved peacefully, if ever two chaps were best friends it is Benvolio and Romeo, they know how the other ticks and have an excellent rapport.
ROMEO - happy-go-lucky, optimistic, does lots of sport, is well read, knows about the family feud, but is not influenced by it, good sword fighter, falls in love too easily, places a lot of store by what he thinks people feel about him rather than what they actually feel, a loyal friend.
MONTAGUE - Romeo's dad, a titled man, but one who has had to work hard to become rich, did not inherit loads of money like some people, doesn't say a lot, but is a deep thinker, however he holds a grudge against Capulet although the reasons for it are long forgotten.
LADY MONTAGUE - Romeo's mum, married Lord Montague when he was a struggling builder, helped him to run and grow his business, defensive of her family, happy to be rich, but is proud of where she's come from.
ABRAHAM - servant to Montague, a proud man, good with his sword, reliable, faithful, has honour, which is slightly tarnished by his quickness to judge people.
BALTHASAR - servant to Montague, friend of Abraham whom he looks up to, Balthasar could be described as being "lots of talk, not a lot of action," but, if pushed, can be relied upon.
FRIAR LAWRENCE - came later in life to the cloth (previously he was a book dealer who travelled throughout Italy to buy and sell), found his calling in all things Holy and horticultural, dry sense of humour.
FRIAR JOHN - junior to Friar Lawrence, very bubbly, helpful, keen, doesn't know when to stop talking nor when people have become tired of hearing about his personal life, deep down is very religious, if only it would surface more often Friar Lawrence would be happier.
CITIZEN 1 - resident of Verona, a farmer, Montague supporter.
CITIZEN 2 - resident of Verona, a carpenter, Capulet supporter.
CHEMIST - disillusioned, depressed because he/she thinks they've learned everything there is to know in the enlightened world, would like there to be many more books for him to read, feels undervalued, feels he/she has no one to talk to, doesn't like the arts, only real love in science.
GUARD - employed by Escalus, highly paid and sees himself as the Prince's Pet.
SERVANT - works for the Capulets, is always busy, but with a wry outlook, someone you'd want to work alongside especially if you were doing boring work or working a long shift, seen as a spokesperson for other servants.
GIRL - guest at Capulet's house, intelligent, doesn't suffer fools, you only get one chance to impress her, which may be to her detriment.
PERSON IN BLACK - a non speaking entity not of this world, prepares seats in "limbo" when people die, passes his/her own judgement through the expression on his/her face although has no influence on people of people's actions.
PAPERBOY - (or girl!), cheeky chappy, blissfully living in a child's world, dreams of running a chain of newspaper and confectionery outlets one day.
PAGE TO PARIS - a bit timid, got the job only because his mum made him do it, admires those who can fight and those who know what to say, misses his dad who is away fighting somewhere.
Running Gags
(1) TYBALT keeps pronouncing words that end in "ed" as if they were accented.
The lowercase letter 'e' is shown as accented in the script where this occurs, e.g dooméd,
which Tybalt pronounces "DOOM-edd" rather than "DOOM'd," and "squishéd," which
Tybalt pronounces "SQUISH-edd" rather than "SQUISH'd." OTHER characters respond to
this as indicated in the script,
usually with a look of "what are you talking about?"
(2) VARIOUS characters, instead of saying "pardon" when they haven't heard, or do not
understand, something respond by saying "P'dann?," which is pronounced "per-DANN?"
with the accent on the second syllable.
It is only the audience who find this unusual.
