The February People’s Choice Award goes to…

The people have spoken… The February People’s Choice Award goes to Daniel Arzola for his short play, Romeo Doesn’t Know, presented as a staged reading live at Theater Wit as well as Simulcast & On-Demand via Vimeo Live on February 5th. Congratulations, Daniel!

Courtesy of Daniel, we’re pleased to share the first few pages from the award-winning script. Enjoy!

ROMEO DOESN’T KNOW
by Daniel Arzola

Two lovers on the Capulets’ balcony. Then Romeo shows up…

CHARACTERS:
ROMEO- Male, 20’s. Passionate dramatic lover. Way over his head.
JULIET- Female, 20’s. Beautiful and smart. Sane.
PARIS- Male, 20’s. Handsome, wealthy, kind.

The Play

(The setting: The Capulet Garden. The famous balcony scene.)

(Lights up. ROMEO enters)

ROMEO: What light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief,
That thou, her maid, art far more fair than she.
Be not her maid since she is envious.
Her vestal livery is but sick and green,
And none but fools do wear it. Cast it off!
It is my lady. Oh, it is my love.
Oh, that she knew she were!

(Laughing is heard coming from Juliet’s room. Faint talking.)

She speaks, yet she says nothing. What of that?
Her eye discourses. I will answer it.—
I am too bold. ‘Tis not to me she speaks.

(JULIET enters on the balcony and ROMEO hides behind a bush.)

JULIET: The thing we call a rose would smell as sweet even if we called it by some other name.
So even if he had some other name, he would still be perfect. Oh, how much I love him.

ROMEO, from the bushes: I take thee at thy word.
Call me but love, and I’ll be new baptized.

(JULIET looks around confused.)

JULIET: Hello? Who’s out there?

ROMEO: By a name
I know not how to tell thee who I am.
My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself
Because it is an enemy to thee.
Had I it written, I would tear the word.

(JULIET stares blankly.)

JULIET: Sorry, I can’t hear you. Could you step out?

(ROMEO steps out from the bushes.)

ROMEO: My heart doth swell with a love so profound,
As if mine acquaintance with thee spans an entire lifetime.

Join us for the inaugural Best of PlayGround-Chicago Gala, live and in-person, on Monday, May 1 at 7pm CT at Theater Wit and simulcast! Click here for more info and tickets.