Blog #3

    The balcony scene (Act 2 Scene 2) is one of the most classic scenes in the Romeo and Juliet. It takes place at Capulet’s orchard. After Romeo and Juliet fall in love with each other with their first sights at the ball, Romeo returns to Juliet’s house, and hopes to see her again. He stands beneath the window. Juliet appears on the balcony, and confesses her love to Romeo. And then, Romeo reveals himself from the shadows. They exchange their love and devotion. I have watched five difference versions of this balcony scenes. Among these different adaptations, the 1968 version and 1996 version impress me deeply. In the following paragraphs, I would like to compare the differences from distinct perspectives.

    Firstly, the most difference would be the actors and actresses. In the play, Romeo is about 16 years old, and Juliet is only 13. The actors play in the 1968 version are much more closed to the original text, compared with the 1976 version, in which the actors both look like around 25 years old. Besides, the stage setting also is quite distinct in the both adaptations. In the 1968 version, Romeo is hiding behind some bushes beneath Juliet’s balcony, staring at her, and Juliet is sitting on the balcony with a long hallway, saying to herself. All the “props” including the architectures and plants, are very real. Not only from the vines enlacing the building, the very style of the old architecture, and the leaves swaying with the movement of Romeo. All these specific details effectively restore the play. However, in the 1976 version, although Romeo is also hiding among the bushes, and Juliet is leaning with her elbows on the window sill. The whole stage literally looks too fake: while Juliet is saying, you can hear the sounds like birds chirping (during the night); while Romeo stepping on the ground, there is some echo; the echo becomes more obvious, when they are talking. This stage must be built up within a big black box. Moreover, whenever the camera cuts to Juliet, it just stays at that frame with Juliet sitting without movement. But, in the 1968 version, Juliet keeps moving: turning different angles toward the sky or walking around the hallway. Moreover, the lighting on the stage also is also very essential. Within the 1968 version, the light is just right. It not only perfectly depicts the darkness that “night cloak” supposed to be look like, but also clearly highlights actors’ faces. Nonetheless, in the 1976 version, the light is just too bright to show that it is during the nighttime. Besides, the light would somehow distract the audience’s attention. 

    All in all, the 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet more vividly restore the balcony scene than the 1976 version, not only because of the appearance of actors, but also the authenticity of stage setting and the lighting.