This is our review of & Juliet at Liverpool‘s Empire Theatre!
Synopsis Of & Juliet
What if Juliet survived when Romeo died? That forms the basis for this unusual show which is almost a show within a show. Indeed, we see William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway agreeing to a theatrical concept where Juliet lives. In a post-Romeo scenario, we explore what Juliet would get up to, and in the current, selfie-happy, pop music-fuelled world.
Mind you, she still faces family pressures, hence her dilemma about having to marry or become a nun. Juliet isn’t the only character with a budding romance, with multiple intertwining love stories throughout the show. However, things take an unexpected turn when Shakespeare uses his creative powers to resurrect Romeo. And from there, we wonder if maybe, just maybe, Romeo and Juliet can have a happy ending after all.
Analysis Of & Juliet
The main word that I would use to describe this show is “unique”. It feels like when a writer conjures up an idea and other ideas flow directly from the first concept. True Shakespeare fans may be surprised, and perhaps even upset, at the portrayal of the great scribe’s most famous play. Elsewhere, I do like the concept of giving Juliet a second chance. But did the writers of the show fulfill the potential of such a narrative? I’m not so sure.
On the bright side, the singing and acting performances from the cast are very good and elevate the production. The settings are outlandish and match the modern setting for a sequel that is hundreds of years in the making. Furthermore, the show provides a soundtrack ranging from the Backstreet Boys and Jessie J to Pink and Katy Perry. And I did appreciate the fourth-wall winks to the audience and the clever, almost subtle references. Case in point: “there is only one Anne Hathaway”, which elicited plenty of laughs.
Summary Of & Juliet
Honestly, this feels like a missed opportunity to me. It’s a fresh take on a timeless tale with a modern twist. But there was so much potential to interlink with past characters and story arcs, yet this didn’t come to pass. Nevertheless, between the soundtrack, the performances, and the notable one-liners, this is still a show worth checking out.