This is an important scene which is omitted from the final cut. Peter, who cannot read, asks two passers-by (Romeo and Benvolio) if they could read to him the names on the invitation to the Capulet’s evening event, so that he can deliver it. The scene explains how the Montague boys get to discover that the Capulets are having a large social gathering with many dignitaries. It also explains why Romeo would wish to attend – in search of the fair Rosaline, whom he discovers from Peter will also be attending. Without this knowledge, Romeo would not have attended, and would not have met Juliet.
The photographic evidence, below, shows that the scene was filmed but was eventually cut in its entirety, presumably to reduce the length of the movie.
The full original scripted scene is also set out below.
Script content: © 1968, Paramount Pictures Corporation
This typescript version: © 2018, Peter Hibbert and the Romeo and Juliet 1968 Movie Database
