To be honest the best intro may be watching the Romeo and Juliet movie–yes, the one with Leonardo di Caprio.
The text is unchanged, but the setting is contemporary gangs in Florida (or California?). The on-screen action, as well as hearing the text spoken with all the right rhythm and emotion makes it much easier to get the meaning.
As for reading, I believe the Arden Edition are the best-regarded annotations. I somehow ended up playing Macbeth in College and spent hours with the text, but it takes a lot of effort to start enjoying all the nuances, and having to perform may have made it easier to stay motivated.
The movie is called Romeo+Juliet :) And agree it is a great version. I'm pretty sure it is supposed to take place in a fictionalized LA - "Verona Beach" is a clever play on "Venice beach" since it allows the characters to just say "Verona" like in the play.
Also Polansku's Macbeth, Coriolanus with Anthony Hopkins, and King Lear. . I think there's a Richard Briers version which was really excellent, though you may find others. And of course Olivier's famous Richard III.
The text is unchanged, but the setting is contemporary gangs in Florida (or California?). The on-screen action, as well as hearing the text spoken with all the right rhythm and emotion makes it much easier to get the meaning.
As for reading, I believe the Arden Edition are the best-regarded annotations. I somehow ended up playing Macbeth in College and spent hours with the text, but it takes a lot of effort to start enjoying all the nuances, and having to perform may have made it easier to stay motivated.
(also non-native English speaker)