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Romeo -
(Male, Late teens - 20s)
- the son and heir of Montague and Lady Montague. A young man of about sixteen, Romeo is handsome, intelligent, and sensitive. Though impulsive and immature, his idealism and passion make him an extremely likable character.
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Juliet -
(Female, Late teens - 20s)
- the daughter of Capulet and Lady Capulet. A beautiful thirteen-year-old girl, Juliet begins the play as a naďve child who has thought little about love and marriage, but she grows up quickly upon falling in love with Romeo.
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Lord Montague -
(Male, 30s - 50s) -
The father of Romeo. He has the same social status as Lord Capulet, with whom he is in feud, and is also
extremely wealthy. Loves his son Romeo deeply and is far more empathic than Capulet.
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Lady Montague - (Female, 30s - 50s) - The matriarch of the
house of Montague, and the mother of Romeo and aunt of Benvolio. She is fiercely protective of her son Romeo.
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Lord Capulet -
(Male, 40s - 50s) -
The patriarch of the Capulet family, the father of Juliet, and uncle of Tybalt. He is a very wealthy and controlling businessman.
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Lady Capulet -
(Female, 30s) -
The matriarch of the house of Capulet and Juliet's mother. She's determined to see Juliet married off to
someone of good standing...like Paris.
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Tybalt -
(Male/Female, Late teens
- 20s) - a Capulet, Juliet’s cousin on her mother’s side. Vain, fashionable, supremely aware of courtesy and the lack of it, he/she becomes aggressive, violent, and quick to draw his/her sword. Loathes Montagues.
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Mercutio - (Male/Female, Late teens -20s)
kin to the Prince, and Romeo’s
close friend. Mercutio overflows with imagination, wit, and, at times, a strange, biting satire and brooding fervor. Mercutio loves wordplay, especially sexual double entendres. He/she can be quite hotheaded, and hates people who are affected, pretentious,
or obsessed with the latest fashions.
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Benvolio -
(Male/Female, Late teens
- 20s) - Montague’s niece/nephew, Romeo’s cousin and thoughtful friend. Makes a genuine effort to defuse violent scenes in public, though Mercutio accuses him of having a nasty temper in private.
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Paris - (Male, 20s-30s) - a kinsman of Prince Escalus and
seeks to marry Juliet. Handsome, somewhat self-absorbed, and very wealthy.
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The Nurse - (Male/Female, 30+) -
Juliet’s nurse and closest
friend. A vulgar, long-winded, and sentimental character, the Nurse provides comic relief with her frequently inappropriate remarks and speeches.
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Prince Escalus -
(Male/Female, 30s - 50s)
- The Prince of Verona. A kinsman of Mercutio and Paris. As the seat of political power in Verona, he is concerned about maintaining the public peace at all costs.
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Balthasar - (Male/Female, Any Age) -
Romeo’s dedicated servant,
who brings Romeo the news of Juliet’s death, unaware that her death is a ruse.
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Abram - (Male, Late Teens - 30s) -
Montague’s servant, who fights
with Sampson and Gregory in the first scene of the play.
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Apothecary - (Male/Female, 30+) -
An apothecary in Mantua.
Had he been wealthier, he might have been able to afford to value his morals more than money, and refused to sell poison to Romeo.
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Peter - (Male, Late Teens - 30s) -
A Capulet servant who invites
guests to Capulet’s feast and escorts the Nurse to meet with Romeo. He is illiterate, and a bad singer.
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Sampson - (Male/Female - Late Teens - 30s) - Servant
of the house of Capulet, who, like their master, hate the Montagues.
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Gregory -
(Male/Female - Late Teens
- 30s) - Servant of the
house of Capulet, who, like their master, hate the Montagues.
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Friar Laurence (Male, 30+) - a
Franciscan friar, friend to both Romeo and Juliet. Kind, civicminded, a proponent of moderation, and always ready with a plan, Friar Lawrence is also an expert in the use of seemingly mystical potions and herbs.
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Rosaline, Valetine, Petruchio, Anthony, Potpan, Friar John,
Chorus, Old Capulet, Servant - (Any
age, 20s+) - Various servants/citizens who appear throughout the play