A fun, joyous musical with a twist on Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ with pop hits that will get you moving in your seat.
Having gone into the theatre blind and not knowing anything about & Juliet bar from some songs and who it is about, I enjoyed it more than I expected.
Infused with the music by Max Martin and friends, we get a classic play turned into a high-energy modern version, and, due to the popularity of Martin’s songs, I knew more of the musical numbers than I thought I did.
Pop songs with a Shakespeare twist
The songs have a Shakespeare twist that can either make you giggle or feel pure emotion.
The story is expressed through songs such as ‘I Want It That Way’, ‘Baby One More Time’, and many other chart-topping tunes that will get the audience drawn in.
& Juliet is undoubtedly a hit with people from theatregoers to first-time show watchers. It features strong vocal performances, cleaver Tudor-inspired costumes and a visually impactful set.
Despite the feeling of the plot being slightly weak, the cleverness and inclusiveness of the script and the amazing score, it definitely justifies it.
The show itself is set on the “opening night” of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. His wife Anne Hathaway is shocked at the synopsis for the new play and takes on the role of rewriting. It ends up with whoever has the magic quill, is writing the action, which the audience sees unfold.
She gets her way and writes Juliet to survive then persuades Will to let her rewrite the play as an empowering feminist road trip for Juliet and her gal (and non-binary) pals. Creating a ‘quill off’ between the married couple. A quite clever storyline.
Outstanding &Juliet musical cast
Miriam Teak Lee is an outstanding Juliet, taking us on her journey from almost suicide to a strong independent woman with soaring vocals, and you will hear her roar.
The absolute star is Cassidy Janson who makes the part of Anne her own, with on point comic timing and emotion of someone in history. Oliver Tompsett is a mischievous Shakespeare who wants to write a perfect tragedy and as Anne would say ‘married to his work’.
Despite the show being about Juliet, it’s the character of May that the show really finds its contemporary take. You May be on their journey with their best friend as well as finding yourself along the way. The power that Alex Thomas Smith brings to May is so wonderful and tender, to then be connected with the portrayal of love with Tim Mahendran’s shy and ever-growing Francois.
I, and those I went to the theatre with, couldn’t stop smiling through the whole show and were drawn in by the twists and turns of the story and love.
The soundtrack itself is available to listen to on all streaming platforms, with my personal favourite being ‘since you been gone’ and ‘I want it that way (reprise)‘ – that one is a slight spoiler if you haven’t watched the show or heard the full soundtrack.
& Juliet is currently running till March 2023 so go get your tickets and have a ‘ball’.