Romeo and Juliet: Performers’ physical interpretation of character (build, age, height, facial features, movement, posture, gesture, facial expression)

Character Portrayal

Character’s Physicality: Performers need to consider how they physically portray each character.
Romeo: As a lovesick teenager, Romeo should be portrayed as either handsome or boyishly charming, with a walk that changes depending on his company.
Juliet: Starting as an unsure teenager and turning more confident as the play progresses, Juliet’s physicality should reflect her emotional growth.
Capulets: Lady and Lord Capulet are of higher social status. The portrayal of these characters should show their superior status and the tension between them.
Mercutio: This lively character should be portrayed through kinetic energy, expressive gestures, and animated facial expressions.
Tybalt: Tybalt’s portrayal should reflect his confrontational nature - possibly with a strong build and harsh facial features.
Friar Laurence: This character should be portrayed as older, wiser and his movements should be slower and measured.
Nurse: Her comic relief role could be portrayed through exaggerated movements and humorous gestures.
Other Characters: Paris, Benvolio and others should also be portrayed with unique physical characteristics to align with their roles.

These decisions depend on the director’s overall vision for the performance, which may vary from one production to another.

Understand how different performances use physicality to portray characters.
Specifically, think about how nuances such as gestures, movements, and posture set the tone for specific scenes like Mercutio’s Queen Mab speech.
Remember the importance of body language in drama. Changes in posture, gesture, or facial expressions can dramatically impact the audience’s understanding of a character’s feelings or motivations.
Also, be aware of important methods used to portray emotions through physical acting, including Laban movement theory and Stanislavski’s system.