& Juliet At Shaftesbury Theatre, London Review

GREAT FUN!!!

Set in the beautiful and historic Shaftesbury Theatre, London, this musical spans the centuries in a joyful romp. From the casual beginning, with cast members drifting onto the stage and doing bits and pieces of dancing to the glorious finish ‘Can’t stop the feeling’, this musical was a light-hearted delight. With some impressive body popping to begin with and exuberant energy from all the dancers all the way through, this musical was energising and engaging from the start

The choreography was fresh and right up to the minute while the costumes were thoroughly Elizabethan! The premise was, “what if the ending to the famous Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet were to be changed?“ “What if Juliet did not die but tried to move on with her life?” And the answer was “& Juliet the musical“

A fanciful re-imagination – perhaps a little manipulated – around the smash hit songs of Max Martin – but manipulated or not – it works! This is an uplifting story of empowering and being confident to be yourself and breaking out of the box – particularly where parental and societal expectations are concerned. It is also a comedy – and it’s hilarious!

Anybody who knows any Shakespeare will be picking up “in” jokes all over the place. The four love stories entwine themselves around smash hits that we know and love – 29 of them! Including:

I want it that way 

Overprotected

Confident

Oops!… I did it again

Love me like you do

Since U been gone

Whataya want from me?

Problem

Everybody

Shape of my heart

Stronger

And Roar

During the first half I began to note down various highlights, but by the end of the first half there were so many of them that I realised there would be way too many to put into a review (now that’s impressive..).

So, without giving any spoilers, the musical begins with Juliet making a decision not to kill herself after all, and beginning to explore her feelings knowing that her beloved Romeo is dead.

In her first solo through the words of ‘Hit me baby one more time“ – which I remember as a kind of  ‘superficial’ hit made famous by Britney Spears in school uniform – she expresses her emotions- however she sings it in such a tender, thoughtful, delicate way that it’s as if it were another song altogether – very beautiful, and very moving. Setting the bar for the quality standard of the show,

It deservedly won the Mousetrap award for the most spectacular set of a musical.

My standout performances were:

Miriam Teak-Lee as Juliet,

Cassidy Janson as Anne, 

David Bedella as Lance 

and Melanie La Barrie as Nurse 

Although all were excellent

There were many highlights, as already mentioned, but I do have to note the following:

Anne Hathaway singing ‘Domino’ – So funny

May’s first solo – what a beautiful voice! (Alex Thomas-Smith)

Juliet’s dance on the table

‘Teenage dream’ sung and acted out by Lance and the nurse – OH MY WORD! – One of the very best parts of the whole show! – Absolutely hilarious!!

The ‘De Bois’ band – I just wanted more of that!

The ticker tape that showered down on us

The final song – ‘can’t stop the feeling!“

And the whole party atmosphere

If you need cheering up at the moment (and don’t we all?) – 

GO AND SEE THIS SHOW!!!

Rating: Five Stars

For more information or to book tickets please visit & Juliet (shaftesburytheatre.com)

210 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8DP