Don't mix up the original with the modern movie version!

Romeo and Juliet is set in Italy in the city of Verona, a place famous, in Shakespeare’s time, for violence.
The fight which begins the play is part of an overarching feud between two wealthy families: the Montagues
and the Capulets. However, in the very first scene, Prince Escalus decrees that all fighting is banned on pain
of death.

Enter Romeo and his friend Benvolio, and we hear of Romeo’s passion for Rosaline, a young woman from the Capulet family. He and Benvolio plan to attend a masked ball at the house of Lord Capulet. Romeo wants to go because he hopes to see Rosaline, and Benvolio because he is sure that Romeo will find other beauties and get over his infatuation. 

Meanwhile young Juliet and her Nurse talk about love, and Juliet says that she doesn’t want to commit herself  to Paris, the suitor her parents have chosen for her. But she agrees to attend the ball that evening to at least see what he looks like.

At the ball Romeo and Juliet fall in love at first sight. Later that night Romeo comes to Lord Capulet’s orchard and sees Juliet in her balcony window. They declare their love, and Juliet challenges Romeo to really mean his love: If he truly does love her, she says, he will marry her the next day!

In the morning, Romeo and Juliet seek the help of Friar Lawrence, who wants to help the two families end their war. He agrees to marry them, and they marry secretly in his cell. They agree to meet again that night.

Meanwhile, Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin, enraged by Romeo’s crashing the Capulets’ ball, comes in search of Romeo to pick a fight. Romeo refuses to fight the man he now secretly knows to be his new cousin, and
Mercutio leaps in. Tybalt takes advantage when Romeo tries to stop the duel, and kills Mercutio under Romeo’s arm. Blind with rage, Romeo stabs Tybalt and kills him. Prince Escalus, in a moment of lenience,
chooses not to punish Romeo by death as decreed, but to banish him forever from Verona.

Now Romeo and Juliet have a terrible problem: They are married but can never live together in Verona.
Juliet is very upset, and her father, thinking that she is grieving for her cousin’s death, gives her a cheering
surprise—she is going to marry Paris in three days!

Juliet, horrified, goes to the Friar. He gives her a potion
that will put her to sleep for 42 hours. Presumed dead, she will be carried to the Capulet tomb; then the Friar will rescue her and take her to Mantua to be with banished Romeo and live happily ever after. All goes according to plan, except that the Friar sends a letter to Romeo that never arrives. All Romeo hears is that his beloved wife is dead. He obtains a poison from an apothecary and goes to drink it at his dead wife’s tomb.

There, he meets a grieving Paris whom he does not recognize, and kills him in his desperation.
Romeo then drinks down his poison and dies. Juliet wakens and finds her husband dead, and the Friar arrives and offers to take her to a convent, since she no longer has a husband. But then the Friar thinks he hears a noise and runs off, thinking he will be blamed for the tragedy. Juliet tries to kiss the poison from Romeo’s lips, then picks up his dagger and kills herself. The Prince and the Montague and the Capulet parents come in and they all declare that, since they are united in their grief, they will take a lesson from Romeo and Juliet, and the families will live in peace.



TWITTER VERSION OF THE STORY

Romeo: Is heartbroken -- crashing the Capulet party, hoping to see Rosaline.
Romeo: Had a nightmare and has a really bad feeling about this party –
Romeo: Just saw the hottest girl at the party, have 2 go talk 2 her.
Romeo: Noooo!
Romeo: Is climbing a wall.
Romeo: Is so smitten.
Romeo: Can’t wait til tomorrow!! Off to the Friar’s –
Romeo: Is making plans with the nurse.
Romeo: I DO!
Romeo: Is off to find his boys. What a good day.
Romeo: Is trying to break up a fight -- Uh oh -- You’re going down, Tybalt!
Romeo: Is fortunes fool. What will I tell Jules??
Romeo: Banished??? NOOOOO!
Romeo: Can’t get reception! Juliet??? R U OK?
Romeo: Sees Balthasar coming, I hope he brings good news!
Romeo: WHAT?! I defy you stars! Where is that Apothecary?
Romeo: Is drinking poison – let’s get this over with.

-Romeo is offline-
Juliet: OMG – only 2 more weeks til I’m 14! Mom wants me 2 marry Paris – ewww.
Juliet: Just had my first kiss! Must find out who he is…
Juliet: Noooo!
Juliet: Is wondering what’s in a name? Stupid parents.
Juliet: <3 <3 <3
Juliet: Where is the nurse????? I can’t wait anymore!!!
Juliet: Is sneaking out –sigh -- I DO!
Juliet: Is sooo happy… I can’t wait for my wedding night!
Juliet: Banished??? Romeo, how could this happen??
Juliet: Nope, that was the nightingale, not the lark. You’re not leaving yet.
Juliet: No!!… It was the lark – you’ve got to get out of here!
Juliet: Won’t marry Paris! I hate you mom and dad! ☹
Juliet: Hopes Romeo has reception in Mantua. R, if you can read this – I’m not really dead! LUV U!
Juliet: I’m suddenly feeling very sleepy…
Juliet: …I’m waking up – what the?? -- Oh, happy dagger!