I’ll be honest – I’d embarrassingly not heard of & Juliet before the Broadway smash hit was coming to Singapore. And when I did hear of it, all I could think was… do we really need another adaptation of the dated tale that is Romeo and Juliet? And really, did it have to feature an odd mish-mash of 90s and 2000s pop hits, some celebrated, some dated? But boy, was I wrong.
I did not think I’d walk out of the Sands Theatre floored at the razor-sharp performance that I’d witnessed. I certainly did not expect to spill a tear while mesmerised by & Juliet’s immensely present cast. And not in my wildest expectations could this jukebox musical have used its selection of songs by Max Martin more tactfully than it did.
You see, on the surface, & Juliet sounds like a load of fluff, when it is anything but. It is no extravagantly-budgeted Disney musical but it is ingenious, and I urge you to give it a chance because it will totally rock your socks off.
I thought I’d try to get through this review without making a bunch of Shakespeare/musical references but alas, in my heart of hearts, I want it that way.
What’s the deal with & Juliet?
Thou only liveth once… or not. Inspired by William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, & Juliet is a version of events in which Juliet does not die from drinking poison, picking up from the end of the original tale of the two star-crossed lovers.
From then, Juliet embarks on a romp-filled journey as she learns that all that glittered in her mere four-day relationship with Romeo, was not gold. What gives this plot the swagger with which to go from walking to running, is the added plot presence of William Shakespeare himself, alongside his historically undercredited wife, Anne Hathaway.
The plot is very nuanced, balancing the elements of Anne Hathaway and the bard’s relationship, Shakespeare’s suspected non-heterosexuality, the silliness of this celebrated piece of literature, and the task of writing a new Juliet story in itself. In some ways, it is both a new story and a fantastical biopic of Shakespeare told from the wavering and healing heart of Anne Hathaway. The latter gives the musical a bit of a very welcome Hamilton vibe.
Written by David West Read with the songs of Swedish pop songwriter Max Martin, the tone of & Juliet is cheesy while witty, and grounded while larger than life. The writing and musicality use all the right moments to evoke ridiculosity and tear-jerking moments of reassurance. It deals with some very heavy themes in delicate but fun fashion, and uses these themes to inspire audiences to write their own brave new worlds instead.
The jukebox is filled with a mix of musical favourites by Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, and more–some performed with different tonalities, and all performed with jaw-dropping talent from a seasoned cast, and a skilled live band worthy of the bard’s legacy. Somehow, & Juliet seems to have been written as the perfect musical to hold this world of songs.
While some of these songs were certainly dated, they’ve been performed in ways we’ve not seen before – sometimes darker, sometimes more rocky, and sometimes even operatic.
The cast and characters of & Juliet don’t disappoint
The poise of & Juliet is shared by its immensely talented cast, bearing familiar names from the original Romeo and Juliet. These characters present very human desires and fallacies, with senior cast members displaying acting chops that will make you melt, and younger cast members holding a naïveté perhaps necessary for their characters. All are written with great balance.
While nearly all of the characters are standouts, special mentions include Romeo portrayed by Blake Appelqvist, whom audiences squealed for on entry, Francois (Yashith Fernando) and May (Jesse Dutlow) who bore their souls as young gay lovers, and Angelique/Nurse (Casey Donovan), whose fierce independence is moving and uplifted by the most tender, yet present voice in the cast.
Juliet herself, portrayed by Australian actress Lorna May Merrypor, holds a strong stage presence and an undoubtedly crystal voice that sees her succeed at bending musical genres.
A surprisingly notable character of & Juliet was actually the set in itself, which was built to mimic the effects of live pop performances, but also to carry the superfluous nature of theatre. A rotating stage, suspended characters, and innovative use of multiple building pieces make clear that & Juliet is a labour of love. And if this music be the food of love, then I say play on!
Made in SG 
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