Romeo and Juliet was first performed on January 29, 1595.
It is the story of Romeo Montague (Romeo Montecchi) and Juliet Capulet (Giulietta Capuleti), two children of warring families in Verona, Italy, who fall in love in contradiction to the rivalries of their relatives. The two seek to defy their parents and marry, perhaps bringing the two families to peace with each other, but this ultimately fails and they both commit suicide, each believing the other is already dead.
The play, along with many others by Shakespeare, is almost entirely written in iambic pentameter.
The story was converted into an opera (Romeo et Juliette) by Charles François Gounod in 1867 with a libretto written by Jules Barbier[?] and Michel Carrè[?].
Beginning with the 1900 production by Clément Maurice[?], starring Emilio Cossira[?] Shakespeare's play has inspired some forty movie versions. The musical West Side Story is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet. It has also inspired several ballets and operas.
1936: Romeo and Juliet[?], produced by Irving Thalberg
1968: Romeo and Juliet, directed by Franco Zeffirelli
1996: Romeo + Juliet, directed by Baz Luhrmann
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