Joyful and exuberant, & Juliet is on stage at Southampton Mayflower Theatre until Saturday
TAKING everything we thought we knew about the world’s greatest love story and flipping it on its head, & Juliet is a truly spectacular jukebox musical which finally gives Shakespeare’s heroine a say in her own destiny.
On stage at Southampton Mayflower Theatre until Saturday, this sensational musical takes the biggest hits of songwriting genius Max Martin for a dazzling 21st century reimagining of the rules of love.
Vibrant, captivating and bursting with energy & Juliet not only showcases some of pop’s biggest hits including Britney Spears’ Baby One More Time and Katy Perry’s Roar, but also centres around a brilliantly and hilariously told story created by David West Read, the Emmy-winning writer from Schitt’s Creek.
The show opens as Shakespeare’s Players are about to step up to perform his latest work – a love story set in Verona. However, The Bard’s long-suffering wife Anne Hathaway is a less than convinced about an ending where everybody dies. What would happen, she asks, if 14-year old Juliet didn’t end it all following Romeo’s death?
Lara Denning is sensational in the role of Anne, blending impeccable comic timing with a powerful voice and incredible stage presence as she becomes ever more involved in shaping Juliet’s destiny. Alongside her, Matt Cardle also delivers a brilliant portrayal of the Bard – a man so stuck in his ways he finds it hard to swallow Anne’s new feminist vision for Juliet, but eventually shows himself to be something of a romantic at heart.
In the updated version, instead of ending her life, Juliet travels to Paris with her nurse Angelique and her bestie May, with Anne making up the girl-power trio. Both Gerardine Sacdalan as Juliet and Sandra Marwin as Angelique are superb, bringing powerhouse voices and sensational dance moves to their respective roles.
TV doctor Ranj Singh also shines as Lance – Angelique’s long-lost love and the father of Juliet’s latest love interest Francois, showing superb comic timing and wonderful voice in this debut theatrical role.
Without giving away too much, Jack Danson is wonderful as the resurrected Romeo – giving a hilarious characterisation of the reformed womaniser who shows he will stoop to some pretty desperate measures to win back his fair Juliet.
The tongue-in-cheek story is brilliantly played out as it becomes apparent it’s not just Juliet’s love life which is unravelling as she visibly grows in confidence. Throughout the production, vibrant sets and dazzling lighting blend with sensational choreography to ensure this high energy show never misses a beat as the 21st century and the Elizabethan era collide.
Joyful, colourful and jam packed with pop’s biggest hits & Juliet is a jukebox musical which doesn’t take itself too seriously. The cast are exceptional, the dancers superb and the comedy elements genius. See & Juliet at Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre until Saturday (9th November) for more information and tickets visit www.mayflower.org.uk
