Reviewed By Amelia Bascombe at New Wimbledon Theatre
Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review.
Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review.
You’d have to have lived a very sheltered life if you don’t know the story of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Hailed as the greatest love story of all time, there’s been no shortage of media based on the epic tale, including multiple films, tv shows, books and many other adaptations. It’s a hard task to take on such an iconic story and make it your own, but no one does it better than & Juliet.
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Photo by Matt Crockett |
Premiering in Manchester in 2019, this jukebox musical uncovers what could’ve happened if Juliet did not kill herself at the end of the play, when she finds Romeo has done just that. With her besties in tow, Juliet sets off to Paris to build a new life but finds that things haven’t turned out quite so differently after all. Piloted by the chaos of William Shakespeare and his wife, Anne Hathaway, trying to write a cohesive plot, this joyously daft musical is set to be a hit with audiences all-round the UK.
Making her professional debut in the lead role, Gerardine Sacdalan looks like she’s been on stage her whole life. She perfectly encapsulates the youthfulness and optimism of Juliet but also shows us that vulnerability and insecurity that makes the character the way she is. Her vocals are some of the bestI’ve heard for this role, and she shines in numbers like ‘Blow’, ‘Baby One More Time’ and ‘Roar’. Sacdalan is destined for an illustrious career if this is what she’s doing in her debut.
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Photo by Matt Crockett |
Lara Denning’s take on the role of Anne is different to other renditions but in the best way possible. ‘That’s The Way It Is’ is the showstopper of the night, as she pours emotion into the song like nothing I’ve never seen before. Lara has chemistry with everyone in the cast and bounces off all of them so well, especially Jay as Shakespeare. Underneath the playfulness and back and forth, we come to understand that the couple have gone through many struggles that they still have to face every day. The piece isn’t too heavy on the subject matters but it’s enough to humanise both characters and make us root for them to come back together at the end. After all, Shakespeare was nice enough to leave Anne his ‘second best bed’ in his will, what more could you want from a husband?
To accompany Juliet on her journey to Paris, we meet her best friend May and nurse, Angelique. Jordan Broatch as Maybears their soul to the audience and is so compelling in their journey throughout the show. Sandra Marvin as the nurse is a casting choice I’ve been waiting for since &Juliet began. Her vocals are electric and powerful, and she dominates the scenes she’s in due to her conviction and perfect comedic timing. Her lover, Lance, is a character that can slip into cliches quite easily, but Ranj Singh pulls out his best French accent and gets through the piece with some surprisingly exceptionalvocal moments. His son, Francois, plays a pivotal part in both Juliet and May’s lives, helping them learn the importance of fighting for what you want. Kyle Cox plays the shy, awkward guy really well and provides a good contrast to all the other eccentric characters. The role of Romeo, usually played by Jack Danson, was performed by Liam Morris, who really made the role his own. I’ve seen plenty of Romeo’s in my time and his take was fresh and incredibly funny. As a piece that celebrates having multiple supporting actors, it’s amazing that they all get their own chance to shine throughout.
The ensemble, as always with this show, are working exceptionally hard and performing Jennifer Weber’s choreography to the absolute max. The best numbers come from those that include everyone, such as ‘Everybody’, ‘Problem/I Can’t Feel My Face’ and ‘Confident’. The costuming by Paloma Young works perfectly with the production, earning an Olivier nomination when they show premiered on the Went End. The mix of Shakespearean and modern influences enhances the vibe of the show and creates a cohesive environment. The set is not too dissimilar to what they had at the Shaftesbury Theatre, although I do miss the revolve in the middle for numbers like ‘I Kissed A Girl’ and ‘Problem/I Can’t Feel My Face’.
If you’re looking for a fun, life-affirming, camp piece of theatre, then &Juliet is 100% for you. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry,and you’ll be able to clap and wave along to ‘Everybody’ by the Backstreet Boys, what more could you want? &Juliet is on a UK tour until the 28th of June where it ends in Cardiff. Tickets are available from https://www.andjulietthemusical.co.uk/
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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