Romeo and Juliet, designs by Oliver Messel

[Pages and plates from the limited edition of Romeo and Juliet with designs by Oliver Messel, published by B.T. Batsford Ltd, London, in 1936.]

The work of Oliver Messel needs no introduction to anyone in England interested in the theatre. His designs for “Helen” and other productions of Charles B. Cochrane’s have brought him a reputation as one of the leading English stage designers of to-day. In the autumn of 1935 he went to Hollywood to design the settings and costumes for the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” produced by Irving Thalberg, starring Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard, and directed by George Cukor.
The publishers, in issuing this volume, feel that it will be not only a fitting souvenir of an important film and yet another marked advance in film technique, but at the same time a work which will rank among the finest editions of Shakespeare’s famous tragedy. The clear and finely printed pages of Shakespeare’s text are enhanced by 32 plates finely reproduced in delicate collotype direct from the artist’s original drawings, and 8 colour reproductions, which are mounted on special paper.
Oliver Messel’s delicate yet vigorous drawings exemplify the spirit and beauty of the lines and are all reproduced to a large scale.
To preserve the quality of the work, only a small edition of the book is being printed, and this is likely to be soon exhausted, forming as it does an ideal gift to any lover of the stage and Shakespeare and to anyone interested in a sympathetic interpretation by one of England’s most brilliant designers.

Romeo and Juliet With designs by Oliver Messel	Cover
1 – Juliet	Frontispiece
Dedication	Oliver Messel’s Note
2 – Benvolio I do but keep the peace…	3 – Where, underneath the grove of sycamore, That westward rooteth from the city’s side…
4 – Romeo Is the day so young?	5 – Paris But now, my lord, what say you to my suit?
6 – Lord Capulet This night I hold an old-accustom’d feast…	7 – … where’s my daughter? call her forth to me
8 – Lady Capulet Marry, that marry is the very theme I come to talk of	9 – Juliet I’ll look to like, if looking liking moves But no more deep will I endart mine eye, That your consent gives strength to make it fly.
10 – Mercutio O! then, I see, Queen Mab hath been with you	11 – A hall! a hall! give room, and foot it, girls
12 – A Street Enter Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio, with five or six Maskers, Torch-bearers, and others	13 – Romeo With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls…
14 – But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks!	15 – See, how she she leans her cheek upon her hand!
16 – The grey-ey’d morn smiles on the frowning night…	17 – Tybalt To strike him dead I hold it not a sin
18 – Juliet … and Juliet is the sun!–	19 – Juliet The clock struck nine, when I did send the nurse…
20 – Juliet So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows…	21 – Tybalt What wouldst thou have with me?
22 – Juliet Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds…	23 – Guest at the Capulet ball
24 – Romeo Night’s candles are burnt out…	25 – Juliet Wilt thou be gone?…
26 – Juliet’s Bedroom What! wilt thou wash him from his grave with tears?	27 . Lady Capulet Talk not to me, for I’ll not speak a word
28 – Friend to Lady Capulet	29 – Juliet And I will do it without fear or doubt, To live an unstain’d wife to my sweet love.
30 – Guest at the Capulet ball	31 – Guest at the Capulet ball
32 – … And as the custom is, In all her best array bear her to the church…	33 – Friend to Lady Capulet
34 – Page to Mercutio	35 – Sampson – Capulet man at arms
36 – Balthasar – Montague man at arms	37 – Negro page to Paris
38 – Juliet Sweet flower, with flowers thy bridal bed I strew…	39 – … And never from this palace of dim night Depart again…
40 – Prince of Verona For never was a story of more woe, Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.