Shakespeare is undoubtedly the greatest writer to have ever lived (are we even going to argue about that?) and I feel a little embarrassed (as someone who definitely NOT the greatest writer to have ever lived) to be writing a review on one of his plays, but no one has done one so far so I thought I should!

Romeo and Juliet is based in Verona, Italy and it is about two young people who fall in love in spite of the fact that their parents are deadly enemies. Shakespeare never tells us why they fell out, but they were definatley pissed off with each other and fight at every opportunity. Romeo Montague is a sensitive soul, too busy falling in love with the wrong girl(s) too get involved in the fighting - he isn't even in love with Juliet at the beginning of the play, but with her cousin Rosaline (who basically couldn't give a f**k).

Juliet Capulet isn't even 14 and is far too young to be even thinking of boyfriends, but her parents are already planning to marry her off to some eejit called Paris (isn't it sad when all your boyfriends are named after different European cities?)

Basically they met, fall in love, have a balcony scene, get married, Romeo kills Juliets cousin Tybalt (he was asking for it), Romeo flees to Mantua, Juliet fakes her death, but Romeo thinks she is really dead and kills himself, Juliet discovers him and then really kills herself. The parents kiss and makeup and all is well(?)...

Why do the lovers always die at the end of every great love story? Maybe wedded bliss isn't everything its cracked up to be!

If you haven't read the play go and read it now!

Hope I didn't spoil the ending...