Act 1

First scene

(Chorus enters stage)

Chorus : 1. Es waren zwei Königskinder,
Die hatten einander so lieb,
Sie konnten zusammen nicht kommen,
|: Das Wasser war viel zu tief. :|

2. "Herzliebster, kannst du nicht schwimmen?
Herzlieb, schwimm herüber zu mir!
Zwei Kerzen will ich hier anzünden,
|: Und die sollen leuchten dir." :|

3. Das hört eine falsche Norne¹⁾,
Die tat, als ob sie schlief.
Sie tat die Lichter auslöschen,
|: Der Jüngling ertrank so tief :|

4. Es war an ei'm Sonntagmorgen
Die Leut' waren alle so froh
Bis auf die Königstochter,
|: Sie weinte die Äuglein rot. :|

5. "Ach Mutter, herzliebste Mutter,
Der Kopf tut mir so weh;
Ich möcht so gern spazieren
Wohl an die grüne See."

6. Die Mutter ging nach der Kirche,
Die Tochter hielt ihren Gang.
Sie ging so lang spazieren,
|: Bis sie den Fischer fand. :|

7. "Ach Fischer, liebster Fischer,
Willst du verdienen großen Lohn?
So wirf dein Netzt ins Wasser,
|: Und fisch mir den Königssohn!" :|

8. Er warf das Netz ins Wasser,
Es ging bis auf den Grund;
Er fischte und fischte so lange,
|: Bis er den Königssohn fand. :|

9. Der Fischer wohl fischte lange,
Bis er den Toten fand.
Nun sieh' da, du liebliche Jungfrau,
|: Hast hier deinen Königssohn. :|

10. Sie schloß ihn in ihre Arme
Und küßt' seinen bleichen Mund:
"Ach, Mündlein, könntest du sprechen,
|: So wär mein jung Herz gesund." :|

11. Sie schwang um sich ihren Mantel
Und sprang wohl in den See:
"Gut' Nacht, mein Vater und Mutter,
|: Ihr seht mich nimmermeh'!" :|

12. Da hörte man Glockengeläute,
Da hörte man Jammer und Not,
Da lagen zwei Königskinder,
|: Die waren beide tot. :

(In the school corridor: Jennifer is late for school, is looking at her watch. Tom wearing a base cap and earphones, comes down the corridor, reading in “Romeo & Juliet” copy.)

Jennifer: Oh, I´m running late.

(Jennifer and Tom bump into each other)

Tom: Sorry.

Jennifer: What are you doing?

Tom: ---

(Jennifer collects her books etc. from the floor, Jennifer doesn´t hear Tom´s apologies)

Jennifer: Now look what you´ve done!

Tom (very quietly): I´m so sorry. (Jennifer doesn´t hear)

Jennifer (looks at her hands and says to herself): Oh, my nails!

(Jennifer goes away and the boy follows her with his eyes)

Second scene

(Friends of Jennifer are in the drama classroom, Jennifer is late, friends are chatting and laughing, Jennifer enters)

Friend I: Hi! Where‘ve you been?

Jennifer: Hi! Guess what happened to me just now. I was running ´cause I was late and some stupid boy just bumped into me. I’ve never seen that boy here before. I think that he´s new at our school. He was soooo rude. He didn´t even say sorry. How stupid!

(Friends: oh... really... etc., then chatting and diva-like-acting continues)

(Drama teacher comes in)

Teacher: Good morning class! Today we´re going to speak about ... (students are chatting on) Are you listening? We´re talking about William Shakespeare and Romeo and Juliet. What do you know about the play?

Jennifer: There is that young couple in Verona.

Teacher: Good. What else?

Friend I: They killed themselves because of love.

Jennifer: How stupid. I’d never do that.

Friend III (bossy girl): That’s typical of you.

Friend II (blond and not-that-clever): Yes, because you aren’t romantic at all. But boys aren’t worth dying for them anyway. (Girls giggle)

Teacher: Romance – that’s a good point. Romeo-and-Juliet-love needs a romantic atmosphere. Let’s repeat a little exercise from last lesson in which we tried to get a feeling for the romance in the famous balcony scene. On your positions, please!

Jennifer: Sorry, I don’t have a partner.

Teacher: Watch closely and describe what you see. You are our romance-measurement-station.

(Romeo-and-Juliet-exercise)

Teacher: Thanks! Take your seats. Jennifer?

Jennifer: Not to bad, but I only see girls, girls, girls. How should we develop romance without boys? What we need is boys.

Chorus (enters and sings songs about men): Männer etc.

Teacher: Stop, stop, stop! What can I do about it. You are only girls in this class an on topic is “Young Love”.

Friend I: I’ve heard there will be somebody new in class.

Teacher: Yes, some T.

(T. enters)

Tom: Excuse me, my name is Tom … (can’t finish)

Friend II: What a surprise.

Friend III: Are my eyes right?

Jennifer: (aside to her friends) Oh, that´s the boy I was talking about.

Friend I: Oh, he´s the stupid one.

Friend II: But he´s goodlooking.

Friend1 and Jennifer (in a chorus): Noooo!

Jennifer: Are you joking?

Friend III: No, he´s not that cute..

Teacher: Right, now. Will you please listen to me. This is Tom, he´s a new student in our class. I hope that you´ll get on well!

Friend II (loud): I guess that´s our Romeo.

(Girls are laughing)

Teacher (earnestly): That´s a good idea, indeed! (to Tom:) Right, we‘re talking about Romeo and Juliet. Will you please take a seat there next to Jennifer?

(Tom tries to sit next to Jennifer, who puts her books on his chair )

Teacher (to Jennifer): Will you please take your books away and let Tom sit down! 

Jennifer (obeys but seems disappointed, says to friends): Moooove!

(Friends laugh...)

Teacher: So, who will be Juliet then? ... (looks around, focusses on Jennifer) Jennifer, you will be our Juliet!

Friends: Oh, poor you, ha ha.

Jennifer: Oh, please, Ma’am, do I really have to..?

(School bell rings)

Third scene

(In the school cafe, Tom is doing his homework, Jennifer comes in, looks around, sees Tom, walks slowly up to him)

Jennifer (unfriendly and reluctant): Hello! Teacher told us to rehearse our parts in the play. Maybe we should do it now? So, do you have time now? (looking around, not wanting her friends to see them)

Tom: Yes, of course. (surprised, shy)

Jennifer: Then, let´s start from these lines and make it quick so we´ll get over with it.

Tom (starts to read as Romeo, balcony scene, speaking sooo nicely, looking into Jennifer´s eyes): O, speak again, bright angel! for thou art - As glorious to this night being o’er my head - As is a winged messenger of heaven - Unto the white-upturned wondering eyes - Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him - When he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds - And sails upon the bosom of the air.

Jennifer (reading Juliet´s lines, feeling not like Juliet while reading!!!): O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? - Deny thy father and refuse thy name; - Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, - And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.

Tom: Oh let me help you. It should sound romantic, love-like.

Jennifer: Is that really necessary?

Tom: In Romeo and Juliet …?

Jennifer: Silence! Keep quiet!

Tom: Did you learn your verses?

Jennifer: For sure, what do YOU think?

Tom: Let’s try a little experiment to make it more romantic. But you would have to close your eyes.

Jennifer: Are you crazy?

Tom: Come on! Trust me! It is for your role. Let’s close our eyes …

Jennifer: Okay, if it helps!

Tom: … and imagine: Verona in Italy – summer – the moon shining brightly – hidden in the garden: Romeo full of longing – and then Juliet steps onto the balcony.

(Inserted: Balcony scene from Shakespeare’ “Romeo and Juliet”)

Romeo: But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? - It is my lady. O, it is my love! - O that she knew she were! - See how she leans her cheek upon her hand! - O that I were a glove upon that hand, - That I might touch that cheek!

Juliet: Ay me!

Romeo: O, speak again, bright angel!

Juliet: O Romeo, Romeo! – wherefore art thou Romeo? - Deny thy father and refuse thy name. - Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, - And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.

Romeo: (aside) Shall I here more, or shall I speak at this?

Juliet: ‘Tis but thy name that is my enemy. - What’s Montague? O, be some other name! - What’s in a name? That which we call a rose - By any other word would smell as sweet. - Romeo, doff thy name; - And for thy name, which is no part of thee, - Take all myself.

Romeo: I take thee at thy word. - Call me but love, and I’ll be new baptized. - Henceforth I never will be Romeo.

Juliet: What man art thou that, thus bescreened in night, - So stumblest on my counsel?

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: Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague?

Romeo: Neither, fair maid, if either thee dislike.

Juliet: How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore? - The orchard walls are high and hard to climb, - And the place death, considering who thou art, - If any of my kinsmen find thee here.

Romeo: With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls. - For stony limits cannot hold love out, - And what love can do, that dares love attempt. - Therefore thy kinsmen are not to stop me.

Juliet: I would not for the world they saw you here.

Romeo: I have night’s cloak to hide me from their eyes.

Juliet: By whose direction foundest thou out this place?

Romeo: By love, that first did prompt me to inquire. - He lent me counsel, and I lent him eyes.

Juliet: Thou knowest the mask of night is on my face, - Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek - For that which thou hast heard me speak tonight. - O gentle Romeo, - If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully. - I should have been more strange, I must confess, - But that thou overheardest, ere I was ware, - My true-love passion. Therefore pardon me, - And not impute this yielding to light love, - Which the dark night hath so discovered.

Romeo: Lady, by yonder blessed moon I vow, - That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops –

Juliet: O, swearnot by the moon, th’inconstant moon.

Romeo: What shall I swear by?

Juliet: Do not swear at all. - Or is thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self, - And I’ll believe thee.

Romeo: I my heart’s dear love –

Juliet: Well, do not swear. - This bud of love, by summer’s ripening breath, - May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet. - Good night, good night! As sweet repose and rest - Come to thy heart as that within my breast!

Romeo: O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?

Juliet: What satisfaction canst thou have tonight?

Romeo: The exchange of thy love’s faithful vow for mine.

Juliet: I gave thee mine before thou didst request it. - And yet I would it were to give again.

Romeo: Wouldst thou withdraw it? For what purpose, love?

Juliet: But to be frank and give it thee again. - And yet I wish but for the thing I have. - My bounty is as bountless as the sea, - My love as deep. - I hear some noise within. Dear love, adieu! - Sweet Montague, be true.

Romeo: O blessed, blessed night!

(End Balcony Scene)

Tom: O blessed, blessed night!

Jennifer: (She drops her textbook, both are leaning down, faces close to each other, eyecontact)

Tom (friendly): Let me help you.

Jennifer (surprised, starts to see Tom differently): Oh, thanks. That’s nice of you. (smiles, continues reading Juliet): How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore? - The orchard walls are high and hard to climb, - And the place death, considering who thou art, - If any of my kinsmen find thee here.

(Tom reaches out and takes Jennifer’s hand in his, they continue hand in hand. The text is very romantic, so is the atmosphere)

Tom (as Romeo): With love’s light wings did I o’er-perch these walls; - for stony limits cannot hold love out, - And what love can do that dares love attempt; - Therefore thy kinsmen are not let to me.

(Friends enter the café, unnoticed by Tom and Jennifer, who continue reading)

Friend II: Let´s have a cup of coffee.

Friend III: Good idea!

Friend II: Where’s Jennifer? I haven´t seen her for a while.

(Friends seeing Tom and Jennifer holding hands, break the magical moment)

Friend I: Oh, there’s Jennifer. And Tom!!

Friends (in a chorus): What - are - you - doing?

(Jennifer and Tom let go of their hands and move away from each other)

Jennifer: We...we...

Tom: Oh, I got to go now. (rises and ...)

Act 2

Scene 1

(the next day, cafeteria: Jennifer sits somewhere, two choruses on each side of the stage)

Chorus: Recites English quotes on love with their German translation. The first four quotes are recited alternating in English and German. Each by one chorus member. The last quote is said by all members together: quotes on love:

C1: ”To live is like to love”

C2: ”Zu leben ist wie zu lieben”

C3: ”Love is like oxygen”

C4: ”Die braucht man wie die Luft zum Atmen.”

C5: ”Love is like a battlefield”

C6: ”Die Liebe ist eine Schlacht”

C7: ”The pain in my heart don’t let me sleep.”

C8: ”Der Schmerz in meinem Herz raubt mir den Schlaf.”

Chorus: ”Kann denn Liebe Sünde sein?”

Chorus: ”Can love ever be wrong?”

(friends enter)

Girl friends (in a chorus to Jennifer): What were you doing yesterday with Tom? Holding hands already?

Jennifer (blushes, stutters, angrily): Aah, Rehearsing Romeo and Juliet … What else?!

Friend II: That of course explains everything. At first sight it looked like something completely different … (grinning) ... like you know what I mean.

Friend III (matter of fact): But you would never start anything with such a jerk anyways, would you.

Jennifer: Well, he can actually be quite nice … When we were rehearsing together this minute ago I didn’t think he was that horrible. Talking to him was even a little bit fun.

Friend I: What do you mean? You don’t mean …? She doesn’t mean, does she?

Friend III: No, she doesn’t. Or does she? (laughs)

Friend II (looking puzzled): Does what?

Jennifer: This is none of your business. I only said that I think he is QUITE nice!

Friend III: Sure, I would say the same. In a week’s time at the latest there will be cuddling and smooching.

Jennifer: That’s not true! You have no idea. You only know love or hate. That is so base!

Friend I: Base is what you are. Like Lucifer you fell from grace …

Friend III: … to hell.

Jennifer (angry): But you don’t know him at all!

Friend II: But you know him, do you? Maybe you don’t deserve better than him and you are perfectly suited ... (makes kissing noises) ... to each other.

Jennifer (even more angry and hurt): Stop it! Stop interfering. Just stop it! You are filthy scum with a filthy fantasy. Leave me alone!

Friend I (cool, stuck up but a bit hurt): As you please. With somebody like you …

Friend III: … we don’t want to have anything to do.

(Friends leave the cafeteria. Jennifer remains alone in the room)

Scene 2

(Friends and Tom with base cap meet in the corridor)

Friend II: Hi Tom.

Tom (confused, embarrassed): Hallo.

Friend I: What’s up? Everything all right?

Tom: Yeah. … Yeah, what about you?

Friend III: Everything is straight! Any plans for today?

Tom: I have balle … sports later on.

Friend III: Excuse me?

Tom: I mean soccer, I have soccer training.

Friend I: Well then, enjoy.

Friend II: See ya later, Tom.

Tom: See you. Bye.

(Tom is confused, turns away from the friends and walks through the door into the girl’s bathroom. The friends look after him and talk about him.)

Friend II: (astonished): What’s he doing there?

Friend III: He goes to the ladies!

Friend I: Jenny will be very surprised.

Scene 3

(class room - inserted: - Nightingale scene (act 3, sc. 5) from Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”)

Juliet: Wilt thou be gone? It is not yet near day. - It was the nightingale and not the lark - That pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear. - Nightly she sings […]. - Believe, love, it was the nightingale.

Romeo: It was the lark, the herald of the morn, - No nightingale. […] - Night’s candles are burned out, and jocund day - Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops. - I must be gone and live, or stay and die.

Juliet: Yond light is not daylight, I know it,I. - It is some meteor […] - To be to the this night a torchbearer - And light the on thy way to Mantua. - Therefore stay yet: thou need’st not to be gone.

Romeo: Let me be taken, let me be put to death, - I am content, so thou wilt have it so. - I’ll say yon grey is not the morning’s eye, - […] Nor that is not the lark whose notes do beat - The […] heaven so high above our heads. - I have more care to stay than will to go. - Come death, and welcome. Juliet wills it so. - How is’t my soul? Let’s talk. It is not day.

Juliet: It is, it is. Hie hence, begone, away. - It is the lark that sings so out of tune, - Straining harsh discords and unpleasing sharps. - Some say the lark makes sweet division. - This doth not so for she divideth us. […] - Since arm from arm that voice doth us affray, - […] - O now be gone, more light and light it grows.

Romeo: More light and light: more dark and dark our woes.

(End Nightingale scene)

Friend II: She’s doing it for real, but he is not real.

Teacher: What did you mean?

Friend I: Jennifer believes Tom is her Romeo but in reality he goes to ballet.

Friend III: … And rather then to the gents he goes to the ladies room.

Teacher: You mean, he is not a boy?

Jennifer (turns to Tom): Is that true – you are not a boy?

Tom (kneels in front of Jennifer): No, my name is Tom-ke, and I am a girl, but I love the Romeo part so much that I wanted to play it with all my heart …

(Curtain falls – Dire Straits music)