Level 5 NYC: Juliet's Balcony Scene

Karina, who performed in The Christmas Truce, is an actor.  During the fall 2012 semester, she asked me to recommend a monologue (a part of a play where one character speaks alone on the stage).

My knowledge of drama and theater is limited, but I do know a little about Shakespeare.  And there is probably no more famous monologue for a woman, than the "balcony scene" from Romeo and Juliet.

Karina spent many weeks memorizing and rehearsing this scene with her acting coach.  She also handmade her own "balcony" to stand behind.

Below, you will find a video of her performance, and the text from the scene with some notes to help readers.

-Eric, NYC

Karina's Performance

JULIET (from Romeo and Juliet, Act II Scene ii, William Shakespeare)


O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?           Why are you Romeo? (Wherefore = why, 

                                                                                      art = are, thou = you)
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;                           Thy = your

Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,                  Wilt = will

And I'll no longer be a Capulet.

'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;                             ‘Tis = it is

Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.                     Thou = you; thyself = yourself

What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,                    nor = not

Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part

Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!


What's in a name? that which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet;

So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,                 Call’d = called

Retain that dear perfection which he owes                    Owes = possesses (Romeo would possess 
                                                                                       his perfection if he had a different name.)

Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,                      Doff = remove

And for that name which is no part of thee

Take all myself.