Mercutio
Mercutio is a character in William Shakespeare's famous tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. He is a relative of Prince Escalus (also known as The Prince), and is a good friend of the Montagues, or, specifically, the son of Montague, Romeo. Mercutio is apt to make long, drawn out speeches, and is generally thought to be a free spirit.
Mercutio is stabbed when Romeo attempts to stop his swordfight with Tybalt. He dies, but not before cursing both the houses of Montagues and Capulet (of which Tybalt, as Juliet's cousin, is a member): "A plague o' both your houses! They have made worms' meat of me...". His line describing his wound, "'Tis not deep as a well, nor wide as a church door, but 'tis enough, 'twill serve," has become famous. He makes a pun before he dies: "Send for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man!" In revenge Romeo slays Tybalt and is "exiled hence" from Verona, the Italian city state wherein the story takes place.
Mercutio's name may possibly be from the word "mercurial", meaning "having an unpredictable and fast-changing mood", a fairly accurate description of Mercutio's personality. The word "mercurial" itself derives from the Roman messenger god Mercury, whose namesakes include the fast-moving planet Mercury; and the metal mercury, a liquid at room temperature.
Performers
One of the most notable performances of Mercutio was that of Sir Jon Becraft, as part of the Globe Players of the United States. This portrayal has received world-wide acclaim and prestige and has become known as the "Definitive Mercutio."
However, while Sir Jon Becraft's classical performance of Mercutio is renowned worldwide, modern theatre patrons overall seem to prefer the slightly more sarcastic and seemingly updated Mercutio, as preformed by Jared T. Wilson of the Little Cl. Troupe. Critics commonly refer to his portrayal of Mercutio as the "Modern-day Mercutio".
Harold Perrineau Jr. portrayed Mercutio in Baz Luhrmann's 1996 version. Reviews of Perrineau's performance were mixed. While some people found his portrayal to be powerful and moving, others believed his performance was too over-the-top and hyperactive.