by William Shakespeare

"These violent delights have violent ends, And in their triumph die like fire and powder, Which as they kiss consume."

Romeo and Juliet are young, impatient, passionate and caught in a series of events which rapidly start spinning out of control in 15th century Verona.

The other characters are equally affected as the entire action of the play takes place in less than a week.

Shakespeare creates no effective voice of reason, allows no character the time to calmly consider their actions; the sun is hot, the mad blood is stirring and, just as we begin to hope that things might be working themselves out, he puts something in the way.