PROLOGUE
A chorus introduces the story, telling of the rivalry between the Capulet and Montague houses and summarizes the tragedy that is about to unfold. ('Vérone vit jadis deux familles rivales')

ACT I
Guests gather at a masked ball in the Capulet house.  Tybalt waits for his cousin Juliet and tells her suitor Paris of her beauty.  Capulet enters and introduces his daughter Juliet to the crowd before inviting them all to dance.  Romeo enters with his friends Mercutio and Benvolio – they are all masked and have snuck into the party.  Romeo tells them of his dream which fills him with foreboding, but Mercutio dismisses it, saying it is the work of the fairy Queen Mab.  ('Mab, la reine des mensonges') Romeo suddenly sees Juliet and is instantly drawn to her.  His friends drag him away as Juliet tells her nurse Gertrude that she has no desire to marry. ('Je veux vivre') When Romeo finally approaches Juliet, they both instantly recognize that they are destined for each other. ('Ange adorable') As Tybalt returns, the two lovers realize their identities, and Romeo runs out.  Tybalt wishes to fight the Montague but Capulet stops him, saying that the party should continue.

ACT II
Later that night, Romeo sneaks back into the Capulet garden and muses on his feeling for Juliet. ('Ah! lève-toi, soleil!')  She appears on the balcony above him and, when he finally reveals himself, the two declare their love for each other. ('Oh, nuit divine') Between interruptions from the servants searching for a Montague pageboy reportedly seen on the grounds, the lovers agree to marry.

ACT III
At daybreak, Friar Laurence brings in a basket of medicinal plants and sings of nature’s wonders.  Romeo rushes in and tells the Friar of his love for Juliet, who soon arrives and the two implore Laurence to marry them.  Convinced of their love and hoping that the union will end the feud between the two families, the priest performs the wedding ceremony. Outside the Capulet house, Romeo’s page Stephano sings a mocking song ('Que fais-tu, blanche tourterelle') and provokes a fight with several of the Capulets.  Mercutio and Benvolio arrive, followed shortly by Tybalt and Paris.  Tybalt and Mercutio fight and, as Romeo arrives to ask Tybalt to forget about the rivalry between the two families, Tybalt fatally wounds Mercutio.  At the death of his friend, Romeo seeks revenge on Tybalt and kills him.  The Duke arrives and, as both families call for justice, he banishes Romeo from Verona.

ACT IV
At daybreak in Juliet’s room, Juliet has forgiven Romeo for killing one of her relatives.  They sing of their love for each other but Romeo pulls away from their embrace when he hears the morning lark. ('Nuit d’hyménée, ô douce nuit d’amour') Juliet refuses to believe that it is morning but then finally bids Romeo farewell as he leaves for exile.  Capulet arrives and tells his daughter that she must marry Paris later that day.  Sorrowful and left alone with Friar Laurence, Juliet tells him that she would rather die than marry Paris.  Laurence suggests an alternative and gives her a sleeping potion that will make her appear dead, telling her that she will awake with Romeo beside her.  Juliet agrees and summons her courage as she drinks the potion. ('Amour, ranime mon courage') When Capulet arrives with the wedding guests to lead her to the chapel, she collapses.

ACT V
Having been presumed dead, Juliet lies in the Capulet tomb.  Friar Laurence learns that his message to Romeo explaining the plan has gone astray and orders another messenger.  Romeo arrives, mourning Juliet’s death, and drinks a vial of poison, just as she awakes from her sleep.  As the two sing once more of their love, Juliet pulls out a dagger, stabs herself, and dies with Romeo.