Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare in his early career.
It is a play about two young "star-cross'd lovers" whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families*. It is not known exactly when Shakespeare wrote the play, but it is thought to be around 1594 - 1595. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetime and, along with 'Hamlet' and 'Macbeth', is one of his most frequently performed plays
It has been adapted numerous times for stage, film, musical and opera. Adaptations of recent years have most notably included the 1950s stage musical 'West Side Story', and Baz Luhrmann's 1996 'Romeo + Juliet' which starred Leonardo Di Caprio and Claire Danes. (source: benchtheatre.org.uk)
* there was rivalry, enemity and hatred between the families of the two lovers.
Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 movie version of the play, starring
Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey.
Baz Luhrman's adptation of Romeo and Juliet to film,
starring Leonardo di Caprio and Claire Danes
Based on the scenes shown in the videos above, what's your first impression? Which adaptation do you like best?
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