In the tragedy Romeo and Juliet, the elder Capulets and Montagues enter in act 1, scene 1 (lines 71–76). How does Lady Capulet add a touch of comic relief to what is otherwise a tense and violent scene?

In the opening scene of the play, a fight breaks out between the Montague and Capulet servants which quickly escalates to a brawl as members of the warring families get involved, despite the citizens' best efforts to stop the fight. When Benvolio draws his sword to break up the melee, Tybalt arrives on the scene and threatens to kill him. During the brawl, Lord Capulet attempts to intervene and requests his long sword. Lady Capulet contributes comic relief to the scene by responding, "A crutch, a crutch!" (1.1.66).
Lady Capulet recognizes that her husband is much too old to participate in the fight, which is why she suggests that he grab his crutch. Her comment is equivalent to a verbal jab at her husband's frail, old body. Despite the suspenseful, tense atmosphere of the violent scene, Lady Capulet's comment adds a bit of comic relief as the audience humorously watches the elderly Lord Capulet attempt to participate in the melee.