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Romeo:
An Insider's Perspective

Austin Helms
Mississippi College
2005

After getting the opportunity to play the role of Romeo in Mississippi College’s 2005 production of Romeo & Juliet, the complexities of the character of Romeo has been revealed to me through rehearsals and performances. Not only did I learn what Romeo wanted, but I also was faced with the challenge of what I could do as an actor to convey his wants and needs.

In this essay, I will discuss both my and Romeo’s aims, as I saw them. However, an actor must first look at Romeo objectively before he can begin to take on the role. So, an examination of the foundations that shape Romeo is necessary. That being done, one can begin to see how these foundations contribute to the externals of Romeo.

Foundations

Locations. In the Hudson/Vollendorf production of Romeo & Juliet, Romeo is from Verona, USA. Verona is a beach town and therefore a tourist locale with plenty of spring breakers. The town lends to the free nature of Romeo and his friends. As in many beach towns, youth roam free among the various locations and tourists.

Economics. Romeo is a Montague, one of two families who are the wealthiest families in Verona. All of Romeo’s friends are typical children of wealthy families, spoiled and unruly. The abundance of money also contributes to the uninhibited spirit of Romeo, since he has never had to worry about much. This general freeness gives him all the time he needs to worry and philosophize about love. Affluence can also be the cause of the feeling of invulnerability that all of the Montague clan tend to possess.

Social life. Romeo, being from a wealthy family, has all the privileges of the upper class. He is also surrounded loyal friends and family, some of which defer to him. His family has personal relationships with Verona’s officials, which can give the Montague boys less fear about breaking Verona’s laws. Romeo also has a deep friendship with Verona’s religious establishment through Friar Laurence.

Hobbies. There are no obvious hobbies that Romeo takes part in. Through context, it would appear that Romeo spends much of his time musing about love and is very passionate about it. Perhaps he is a poet. Romeo also spends a lot of his time with his friends and enjoys a good verbal joust.

Thought life. Romeo is seemingly obsessed with one thing: love. As previously stated, Romeo’s ready responses to Benvolio and Mercutio about love would lead one to believe that he spent much of his time philosophizing about it. Even after he finds his love, he is still obsessed with it, even though it may be less a fixation on the qualities of love and more on the physical aspects of it.

Externals

Bodily adjustments. Romeo is a very passionate character. Nothing he does in this play is middle ground; he takes everything to the extreme. This in mind, an actor playing Romeo should use big motions. Of course, Romeo was brought up in an upper class setting, so he would have good posture and know how to carry himself properly and with honor. On the other hand, he is a teenager in love, so a little awkward movement and/or clumsiness would not be unfounded.

Ornaments. The MC production of Romeo & Juliet was set in a modern American beach town. That, along with the personality of the Montague boys, would dress Romeo in beach wear, i.e., board shorts, muscle shirts or shirtless, flip-flops, etc. Of course, being from a wealthy family, Romeo would also know how to dress up. Romeo would wear a tuxedo or nice suit for the party and wedding scene.

External and physical states. As said previously, Romeo is very passionate in everything he does. He is rarely calm, but instead, the play finds him depressed and jaded, insanely in love, ecstatic, and deeply moved to suicide, among others. The actor playing Romeo gets to play a range of emotions, but never gets to experience the calm serenity of normality.

Personal Endeavors

Overall objectives. In the Hudson/Vollendorf interpretation of Romeo & Juliet, the directors wanted Romeo and Juliet to play to the youth that is described in the script, but in a modern setting. As such, my attempt at a characterization of Romeo was to play him as a slightly mature high school kid. He is slightly masculine, but not to the point of scoffing at love. A lover, not a fighter, my Romeo was extremely self-confident even when he was making a fool of himself. Juliet’s quick acceptance of him contributed to this confidence—his charm worked!

Romeo’s motivations. Although his immediate objective changes periodically throughout the play, Romeo’s over all spine of action can be his desire to love and be loved in return. In the beginning, with Rosaline, he is in despair because she has sworn to live chaste. When he sees Juliet, he is immediately moved to woo her. After actually receiving love from Juliet, he instantly marries her to be with her. After hearing of his banishment, he cries that death would be better than being parted with his Juliet. When news of Juliet’s “death” reaches him, the thought of not having the love he has already tasted drives him to suicide.