Rocío Grimaldo

Narrative intervention exercise- Update of a scene from the play "Romeo and Juliet"

"Lamb Kebab"

Scene V.

Late afternoon. A hall in the Capulet estate decorated as Noah’s Ark. Musicians with animal costumes are setting up their instruments on a stage, located in the garden. Enter waiters dressed as Roman soldiers, with trays carrying empty champagne flutes.

CHIEF WAITER

Where the fuck is Potpan? When he gets his sorry ass in here do not let him touch the Limoges plates. He will scrape them, I know it! Lily, Antony and you will serve and pick up the tables. Potpan will stick to handing out the Cristal. I cannot trust him with expensive stuff.

WAITER 2 [Grumbling to himself]

When will the madness end? He should just fire him. This is just foul.

CHIEF WAITER

Take the daily cutlery out, move that table out of the way. We need the rosewood table over here. That will be the buffet table. Good Lily. By the by, save me some of those to-die-for éclairs, will you dear? and, as you love me, let the porter let in Susana and Neli. Antony! Potpan!

WAITER 2

They are coming.

CHIEF WAITER

Antony, Potpan you will be in charge of the champagne in the great chamber but keep an eye on the entrance, too. The guests must NEVER be without a glass of bubbly! [Bustles off to the kitchen]

ANTONY

We cannot be here and there too. [Mumbling as he turns around and scratches his head.]

[They retire behind.

Later that evening at the main entrance to the Capulet home. Limos come and go. NINO CAPULET (dressed as Moses), his wife FRANCESCA (dressed as Eve), and his daughter JULIET (dressed as the Burning Bush) are greeting the last of the costumed guests and are moving into the great chamber where most of the 250 guests are gathered.

NINO CAPULET

Welcome! How are you, madam? Let me see, you look like Delilah, and where is your Samson, eh? Signor Martino, good evening. Now, with which of your lovely daughters may I dance tonight? Do come in and take a glass. Welcome, welcome.

[Orchestra is playing jazz standards. Couples are swaying to “The nearness of you”.

NINO CAPULET

More light! [Instructing the chief waiter] Turn down the heaters. The room’s hellishly hot. Ha ha! Ah! Roberto, nay, sit, nay, sit, good cousin. I want to talk to you. You and I are past our dancing days; How long is it now since last yourself and I were in a mask?

COUSIN ROBERTO (as the apostle Peter with a plastic rooster on his shoulder)

Mamma mia, 30 years!

NINO CAPULET

What, man! No, no, no. It is not so much: it’s since the nuptial of Lucentio, 25 years ago. I never understood why we had to put a mask during a wedding…

COUSIN ROBERTO

Nino, it’s more. Lucentio’s son is 30.

NINO CAPULET

What? His son was a teenager two years ago…

In the meantime, while Benvolio (as Jonah) and Mercutio (as the Good Samaritan) are entertained with the hors d’oeuvres table, Romeo (as the Lost Sheep) stands in a corner of the great chamber, near the terrace, looking at the crowd trying to find Rosaline, the woman he supposedly loves. Nevertheless, through the holes in his mask his eyes stumble on Juliet, dressed in her “burning bush” costume. Their eyes meet. She looks away.

ROMEO

Who is that woman? The one in red, besides the Tower of Babel?

POTPAN

I don’t know, sir. Would you like champagne?

ROMEO

Ohhhh she is breathtaking…

At the other side of the room.

TYBALT (dressed as Goliath)

That’s Romeo Montague! I’m getting my gun. How dare he invade our home! I’m gonna fucking blow his brains out!

NINO CAPULET

Where are you going in such a huff?

TYBALT

Uncle, Montague is here.

NINO CAPULET

Romeo Montague?

TYBALT

Yes.

NINO CAPULET

Leave him alone, Tybalt. People like him and he has a good rep in town. Take no note of him: And don’t you dare make a scene at my party.

TYBALT

I won’t tolerate this.

NINO CAPULET

You will or you will leave. It is my house.

TYBALT

Uncle, it is a shame.

NINO CAPULET

Go, or stay and be quiet.

TYBALT

I will go but you will lament that you let him in.

Exit.

[Orchestra is playing “You go to my head”.]

Romeo approaches Juliet, offers her his arm and motions her to walk with him to the terrace.

ROMEO

[To JULIET, very close] I am so ready to kiss you..

JULIET

Good for you. [while she opens her eyes wide and laughs nervously]

ROMEO

Can I?

JULIET

Are you nuts? [giggling and blushing, looks behind her, at the crowd]

ROMEO

Are you not the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen?

JULIET

I’m not going to sleep with you.

ROMEO

Then don’t move while I kiss you. [As he leans in and kisses her]

JULIET

[Sighs] Your kissing is not surprising.

ROMEO

Surprise me then.

NANNY CONCETTA (dressed as an Angel)

Madam! Your mother needs to speak with you.

JULIET pries her eyes away from Romeo and leaves.

ROMEO

Who is her mother?

NANNY CONCETTA

Her mother is the lady of the house.

ROMEO

Is she a Capulet?!

Dear God!

BENVOLIO

Let’s go Romeo…while we are still alive.

ROMEO

Yes, we must…

NINO CAPULET

No, gentlemen, you cannot leave. Please. You cannot? Why, then, I thank you for coming. Have a good night.

Exeunt all.

[“We’ll be together again” is heard throughout the house.]

NANNY CONCETTA joins JULIET at the top of the stairs.

JULIET

Come Concetta. Who was that gentleman?

NANNY CONCETTA

The son of old Tiberio.

JULIET

Who's he that is going out the door?

NANNY CONCETTA

I think, Petrucio.

JULIET

Who's he that is the Lost Sheep?

NANNY CONCETTA

I don’t know.

JULIET

Ask his name and if he is married.

NANNY CONCETTA

[sighs] He is Romeo Montague. The only son of your enemy.

JULIET

Oh no! It can’t be….I think I love him.

NANNY CONCETTA

What?!

JULIET

Oh I just said I think I recognized him.

[Someone calls Juliet from downstairs].

NANNY CONCETTA

Coming! Let’s go.

Exeunt.