9-5-08 Romeo and Juliet Acting Analysis

Maybe the most emotional scene in the movie is when Balthasar comes to tell Romeo the news that Juliet is dead. In this scene Romeo goes from excited and hopeful for good news to devastated by the knowledge of Juliet’s death. The movie chooses to extend the part where Romeo first reacts to the news.
In the written play there is no break in the dialog from where Balthasar tells Romeo to where Balthasar exits. In the movie, Romeo greets Balthasar playfully, wide-eyed and enthusiastic. His delivery of lines is impatient. He is so excited to hear the news that he asks a new question before the last can be answered. When he learns that Juliet is dead, his face shows confusion. He doesn’t want to believe and asks if it is really so in a weak, quiet voice. Romeo breaks down and cries out in anger and pain before a calm comes over his face and he realizes what he must do next.