THE FIFTEEN- MINUTE PLAY

The Fifteen-Minute Play is a plot summary intermingled with quotations from the play. It is typically used to introduce students to the play or to prepare them to see a production. You can alter it as you see fit, invent a version of your own for a different play, or have your students create one. Try to keep it as short and simple as possible.

Create cards for the quotations with the corresponding numbers, shown below, in bold. The cards should be large enough for three to five people to read simultaneously.

Divide the class into groups and distribute the cards. Each group may have multiple cards. Give the groups five to ten minutes to prepare dramatic renditions of their line(s). They can

read the line(s) as a chorus, individually, or in sub-groups, but everyone must speak part of the text.

Encourage students to physicalize/dramatize the line(s) in some way. Using props is acceptable, but not necessary.

When the rehearsal period is over, ask everyone to stand in a circle. The leader (you, or a student) stands in the circle, too, and reads aloud the script of the story, calling out the numbers of quotations where indicated and pausing for the group responsible for that quotation to step quickly into the center and perform it.

The leader should keep a quick, steady pacethe activity is much more fun when it moves right along.

15 MINUTE ROMEO AND JULIET

The minute this play begins, you know there are two families that hate each other, and that

this hatred is old and bitter. Folks are yelling (1. DOWN WITH THE CAPULETS!), and other

folks are yelling (2. DOWN WITH THE MONTAGUES!) There is a brawl, which is so violent

that the Prince has to come out and lay down the law. (3. IF EVER YOU DISTURB OUR

STREETS AGAIN, YOUR LIVES SHALL PAY THE FORFEIT.)

Then we see Romeo wandering around and learn that he has been staying out all night and

sleeping all day because he is in love with Rosalinewho doesnt love him back. And we

meet "the boyshis friends, Benvolio and Mercutiowho are headed for a party at the

Capulets. It's a masked ball, so they all can sneak in undetected and no one will know they

are Montagues. Benvolio is excited because the ball will give Romeo a chance to get over

Rosaline. (4. EXAMINE OTHER BEAUTIES.) Juliets father doesnt know that Romeo and his

friends are Montagues either, and he welcomes them. (5. YOU ARE WELCOME,

GENTLEMEN! COME, MUSICIANS, PLAY!)

And there, at this party, is where Romeo first sees Juliet. (6. O, SHE DOTH TEACH THE

TORCHES TO BURN BRIGHT!) They dance. They kiss. She says, (7. YOU KISS BY THE

BOOK.) Only at the end of the party do they learn that the other is their familys hated

enemy. But Romeo and Juliet don't feel like hated enemies. Romeo ditches his buddies,

climbs the wall into the Capulets orchard, and speaks the speech you know . . . (8. BUT

SOFT, WHAT LIGHT THROUGH YONDER WINDOW BREAKS?) You know what she says,

right? (9. O ROMEO, ROMEO, WHEREFORE ART THOU ROMEO?) They talk passionate

love . . . and Juliet's mother calls her. Romeo says, (10. WILT THOU LEAVE ME SO

UNSATISFIED?) Juliet is no fool. She says, (11. IF THY . . . PURPOSE MARRIAGE, SEND ME

WORD TOMORROW.) Of course, marriage between these two is unthinkable, but love is

love. They enlist the help of the nurse and Friar Lawrence who secretly marries them.

But the feud continues. In the town square, Tybalt, a Capulet, comes looking for a

Montague, and Mercutio takes him on. (12. TYBALT, YOU RAT-CATCHER, WILL

YOU WALK?) Tybalt angrily answers, (13. I AM FOR YOU.) They fight. Romeo tries to

peacefully break up the fight but instead only gets in Mercutios way, which allows Tybalt to

stab Mercutio. Mercutio dies, and Tybalt flees. But just when you thought it was over . . .

(14. HERE COMES THE FURIOUS TYBALT BACK AGAIN!) In a fury, Romeo kills Tybalt. He

immediately realizes his horrible mistake in killing Juliets cousin and says, (15. O, I AM

FORTUNE'S FOOL!) The Prince banishes Romeo to Mantua for killing Tybalt.

Before Romeo leaves, he spends the night with Juliet. As he leaves, she says . . . (16. THEN,

WINDOW, LET DAY IN, AND LET LIFE OUT. The next day, Lord Capulet tells Juliet that he

has arranged for her to marry the County Paris. She says (17. ILL NOT MARRY YET.) Her

father, angry that Juliet is refusing his choice for her in marriage, says, (18. HANG THEE

YOUNG BAGGAGE! DISOBEDIENT WRETCH!)

Juliet and the Friar come up with a plan. Juliet takes a potion so she'll appear dead and so

that her parents will put her body in their funeral monument. Then Friar Lawrence will

fetch her and take her to Mantua. Juliet takes the potion. (19. ROMEO! HERE'S DRINKI

DRINK TO THEE.) It works. Her nurse and her mother find her in the morning. (20.

ALACK THE DAY, SHE'S DEAD, SHE'S DEAD, SHE'S DEAD!) They put her body in the tomb.

In Mantua, Romeo hears word of this and believes she is dead as well. Many people, then,

are headed for Juliet's tomb. Romeo, who stops off to buy some poison, is going there to

join Juliet in death. Friar Lawrence is going there to get Juliet and take her to Mantua. Paris

is going there to mourn his almost-wife. Paris gets there first. Romeo kills him and he says,

(21. O, I AM SLAIN!). Then Romeo takes poison himself and bids Juliet a final farewell. (22.

HERE'S TO MY LOVE! . . . THUS WITH A KISS I DIE.)

Friar Lawrence arrives to find Romeo dead and Juliet waking up. As usual, he has great

advice for Juliet . . . (23. I'LL DISPOSE OF THEE AMONG A SISTERHOOD OF HOLY NUNS.)

Juliet orders Friar Lawrence out of the tomb. When the Friar leaves, Juliet decides to join

Romeo in death. (24. O HAPPY DAGGER, THIS IS THY SHEATH.) Romeo and Juliet are

found there by their families grown-ups! who see that their quarrels have gone too far.

They vow to make peace, for (25. NEVER WAS A STORY OF MORE WOE THAN THIS OF

JULIET AND HER ROMEO.)