This story in verse begins in the quaint hamlet of Verona, where the beloved children of the city's two top (and feuding) families have fallen in love and, because of that feud, have killed themselves.    A re-staging of the final scene in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet kicks off our comedy. After the wailing, gnashing of teeth and rending of 16th century ready-to-wear, the lights go down and the two, supposedly dead teens pop back up... having staged their own deaths to get a little peace from the prying eyes of parents, friars and audience alike. The fact that they've made peace between their two families is just a perk. Now the two are off to live secret, romantic lives in the bucolic splendor that is Mantua.    Meanwhile, back at castle number one.... Lord Montague is in the midst of a row with the Lady of the house. The heads of the opposing families (at the end of Shakespeare's play) pledged to erect gold statues to the dead lovers - but therein lies the rub. Lord M. has just seen the plans which show a reclining figure of Romeo (that Capulet must provide) while Juliet's statue (to be 'Montague made') is to be carved standing. Lady M. reminds him that, since Romeo is dead, lying down can be a 'good' thing. But the Lord of the house is a business man after all: a standing sculpture requires more surfaces to be carved (costing more money!) and requires the use of more gold! Hrrumph! The good Lord chooses to fill the 'Juliet' with lead (it will weigh the same and cost less!) just to get even.    Over at castle number two.... Lord Capulet has just sprung one of his henchmen - Gregory - who was jailed at the start of Shakespeare's play for fighting in the street. He tells Capulet that some of his ex-con buddies are taking lead to the forge - exposing Lord M.'s little trick. Capulet gets mad and the feud is back on!    At castle number three (the big one)... Prince Escalus and Friar Lawrence are disturbed by the two families' mounting tensions but cannot figure out how to make them knock it off. The Friar is on his way to Mantua to pick up whatever remains at the Montague country home from Romeo's days there in exile. The Prince asks that he bring whatever he finds to the palace - maybe they can ease the tensions with something the Friar may find....    In Mantua, Romeo tells that all is going wonderfully, except that Juliet misses her mother. Juliet interrupts his soliloquy when she finishes her chores and wants a little midday 'reward'. Romeo is quick to oblige... (They ARE newlyweds!) but a knock at the door sends everyone scurrying.    Friar Lawrence is so shocked to see who answers the door he faints dead away. When he comes to the three make a plan to remake the peace and satisfy Juliet's desire (to see her mother).    Returning to the palace the Friar informs the Prince of his plan. The Prince chides the Friar for being simple saying that, even if the dead lovers could be brought back to life, it would still be hard to make a peace to last.    The Friar (while Romeo and Juliet look on - as hooded monks) hatches a new plan on the spot. He tells the Prince of the 'Tanna' tree which has a special power. As long as the tree lives - those buried underneath it will return to life. But the tree is a very sensitive plant... if it is exposed to even a single hostile action it may wither and die. If the tree dies then so do the two it brought from the dead... AND all those who caused it to be planted!    The Prince finds it pretty far-fetched but... he'll give it a try. The Friar says he can make the spell - and plant the seed - only after every weapon in town has been melted down in the forge. The Prince, with the aid of the two houses, he can get that job done but he begs the Friar not to be playing a prank.    Capulet's spy is found carrying a sword by one of the townsmen the Prince has gathering up weapons. The Spy tells the Townsman that he'll give up his sword - when they pry it from his cold dead fingers. The Prince, lurking in the shadows (as they do) tells the townsman that the man has a right to bear arms - but that he also promised he'd send all the weapons to forge and hates to lie. He ponders a moment then comes up with the solution. The Spy can keep his weapon - simply get two guards to throw any man holding a sword into the forge as well. (Now THAT'S leadership!)    The Friar gathers everyone to stand before two mounds of clay where he plants the seed. The heads of the two houses quibble a little thinking there is some mischief is being done... but are interrupted by someone breaking into the family vault where the lovers committed suicide. Or, rather, breaking out. Miraculously, Romeo and Juliet appear from the tomb and everyone jumps for joy!    The narrator fills in the rest of the story. Telling that everyone in this story lived long and happy lives. And, that after Romeo, Juliet and the Friar died... the 'Tanna' tree began to bear fruit. He tells that it looked, smelled and tasted like a peach...    But you and I know it was really quite a plum!