How does Baz Luhrmann keep the spirit of Shakespearian theatre alive in his interpretation of Romeo and Juliet?

Romeo and Juliet is one of the many plays written by William Shakespeare. This play has been performed in theatres everywhere and has been watched by millions of people over the years. Not only has it been acted out in theatres, it has also been interpreted in films in different styles. Baz Luhrmann had produced his own adaptation of the play. His concept was a modern-day version of the play. Luhrmann did well to maintain the spirit of Shakespearean theatre alive in his movie.

Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of Romeo and Juliet was set in a modern-day world. He had replaced the swords with guns, had cars, TVs, almost everything we have now. However through the movie, instead of having modern English, Luhrmann kept the Shakespearean language. All the dialogue spoken was the same as the Shakespearean script. Luhrmann could have had many different reasons to why he chose to keep the Shakespearian language, but by keeping it, he had retained the spirit of Shakespeare in his movie.

In Romeo and Juliet the theme of fate was developed and had controlled the play. Baz Luhrmann also kept the theme of fate in his movie. In the scene before Romeo and his friends go to the Capulet’s party, Romeo stops them. He says he had a premonition in a dream he had the previous night. He dreamt that this party would eventually lead him to his own death. Luhrmann directed this scene by having Romeo speak the lines and at the same time he would show a future scene. It showed Romeo walking down a church aisle. At the time that would have meant nothing to the audience, but that same scene shows when Romeo is about to die. After Romeo discusses his dream, he says he won’t bother with it and will let fate lead him, ‘But he that hath the steerage of my course, Direct my sail‘.

In his plays, Shakespeare would use a lot of language features and styles. For example Dramatic Irony. Shakespeare would use dramatic irony to captivate the audience’s minds and would play around with their emotions. He would make them frustrated or annoyed that when something big is going on only the audience would know but the characters would have no clue. Baz Luhrmann takes that on and uses it effectively in his movie. There is a certain scene that toys with the audience’s minds. When Friar Lawrence sends the letter explaining his plan to Romeo, the post man knocks at Romeos caravan door, but doesn’t notice Romeo at the back. The postman then leaves a message saying that Romeo was not at home when the post arrived, so he must pick it up later. That note falls to the ground and Romeo does not see it. Later when Romeo finds out that Juliet is ‘dead’ he rushes to Verona, stepping on that note! That probably did end up irritating the audience.

During the Elizabethan times, women were not allowed to act in theatres. That meant men would have to play women characters and dress up like women. Luhrmann did have actresses in his movie, however in one scene, Mercutio dresses up as a woman. The scene of the Capulet’s party, Romeo’s and his friend’s all dress up in costumes. Mercutio, Romeo’s closest friend, is a male character and is played by an actor, but he arrives dressed up as a women for the party. In Shakespeare’s script, Mercutio does not dress up as a women, so Luhrmann had added that in, making a connection to the Elizabethan times.

During Elizabethan times, religion was a priority. Everyone was dedicated to a religion and so was Shakespeare. Shakespeare made his characters Catholics. Now, not everyone is dedicated to a religion, some people are atheists or agnostic. People, who follow a religion may not even follow it properly. Luhrmann still kept religion big in his movie. He kept the characters as Catholics and had many religious symbols in the movie. Friar Lawrence, the city’s priest, had a tattoo of the cross on his back. Romeo always says that without Juliet he can not live, so when Romeo found out that Juliet was ‘dead’ he fell on his knees and stretched his arms out. He fell into the crucifixion pose of Jesus. Romeo, in that position, cried out to God,’I defy you stars’. So he turns against God. Also Juliet had candles and a picture if Jesus in her room. At times she would pray to it.

Baz Luhrmann had succeeded in keeping the spirit of Shakespearian theatre alive, in his adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. He had sustained the spirit in various ways and made many links to the Elizabethan times during his interpretation of the movie. Luhrmann had certainly managed to keep the spirit of Shakespeare alive.