Baz Luhrmann’s interpretation of Romeo and Juliet keeps the spirit of Shakespearean theatre alive in many different ways. One of the main things he does to keep the spirit of Shakespearean theatre is by keeping the language and script the same as Shakespeare’s original play even though Baz Luhrmann’s interpretation is completely modern compared to his play.

Baz Luhrman’n has also kept some of Romeo and Juliets famous scenes original and the same. For example, the scene when Juliet is on her balcony talking about her feelings for Romeo but she doesn’t notice until he shows himself. He has also done the same when Romeo went to Friar Lawerence’s cell talking to him about his love to Juliet and to marry her the very next day. Here is a quote that he kept the scene originally the same along with the act:

But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief
That thou, her maid, art far more fair than she. . . .
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars
As daylight doth a lamp; her eye in heaven
Would through the airy region stream so bright
That birds would sing and think it were not night.

Dramatic Irony – Baz Luhrmann has used Dramatic Irony in many of his scenes such as the scene I mentioned about before when Juliet is on her balcony exposing her feelings about Romeo without realizing Romeo is eavesdropping below her balcony but only we can see him not her until he speaks.It has also been used in the scene when Juliet is about to drink the poison (not deadly) that Friar Lawrence Gave her to put her into a deep sleep to trick her family into thinking shes dead when actually shes just gonna be in a deep sleep until Romeo comes to wake her up in her tomb so they can run away from the city and be together.

Iambic Pentameter – In all Shakespeare’s plays he has used Iambic Pentameter which is a type of pattern/beat to his script but he only used it on the first class citizen characters, he never used it on lower class. For example when the Capulet’s send the servant out to send people their invitations but he could not read so he came across Romeo and Mercutio and asked them to read out the names for him but in his speech there was no type of Iambic pentameter which resulted to Romeo and Mercutio to be invited to the Capulet’s party. Heres an example: – – – / – / – / – – /
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.

Songs/Music – Baz luhrmann used Music in his interpretation however it wasn’t the same as Shakespeares ones However, even though Romeo and Juliet belongs to Shakespeare, Baz luhrmann Took over the music of his play. This is one interpretation he never did. He never kept Shakespeares play music which which meant that people are falling in love with Baz Luhrmanns music not Shakespeares. This resulted in Baz Luhrmann getting the praise not Shakespeare with the music of Romeo and Juliet however, there has been rumors that Shakespeare never stuck to a song for each scene in his play. It has been said that for each time he performed his play he never stuck to a piece of music. William Shakespeare changed it every time.

He is also known for the fact he has brought back the language of Shakespeare’s script which was last publicized up to 500 years ago and he has made famous actors such as Leonardo DiCaprio (which has also played in Titanic and acted out as Romeo) be the one to speak Shakespeare’s old script but to be acting in a modern fashion.

Shakespeare only used men in his plays because females at the time weren’t allowed to be actors but if you noticed in Baz Luhrmann’s interpretation, he has made Mercutio more feminine and made him wear feminine clothes at some points to try show not tell people of the past of Shakespearean Theatre.

Baz Luhrmann managed to keep time under control and understandable in his play unlike in Shakespeare’s because the audience have always struggled with the amount of events in a day of the script however Baz Luhrmann has managed to make all the events and scenes all make sence to the audience. He does it by fitting the script together with the act for example when Romeo says “Don’t tempt a desperate man” with a hostage he has got hold of unlike in Shakespeare’s play when Romeo says it to Paris.

The interpretation from Baz luhrmann has been a great success and he has brought back the life of Shakespearean theatre. He has reborn… Romeo and Juliet.