What if Shakespeare stepped away from his male ethos and leaned into a female perspective?
What if he listened to his wife and scraped the tragedy in Romeo and Juliet and replaced it with curiosity and self-discovery?
And, what if he did all this to the heart-pounding award-winning pop music of Swedish songwriter, Max Martin — think Confident, It’s My Life, Since U Been Gone, I Want It That Way, and Can’t Stop the Feeling!!
What if & Juliet?
Created by the Emmy-winning writer from Schitt’s Creek, David West Read, the multiple award-winning and Tony nominated & Juliet, on stage at Altria Theater through Sunday , takes Read’s adoration for puns and tosses them like salad into a mixing bowl of playful, creative wordplay topped with subtle humor to create a sweet-yet-savory dish that commands your attention.
Rewriting Juliet’s Story
The jukebox musical uses Read’s puns and Martin’s lyrics to provide a glimpse into what would have been if Juliet didn’t act on impulse and kill herself over her first love — a guy she had only known for four days.
The musical also takes a comical, satirical shot at Shakespeare’s contradictory views on gender and equality, a hilarious few minutes that drew a round of laughter from last night’s audience.
In creating the show, it seems logical that Read also pondered the question: what if we mix talented, witty Broadway veterans who have keen timing, with a stable of eager, enthusiast first national tour newbies who aim to please?
Because that’s just what happened. The combination is endearing and has all the energy of the Energizer bunny.
Pop Hits and Comic Timing
The interpretations of Read’s mega hits are quite interesting. I especially loved the renditions of Confident, Since U Been Gone, and Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) or in this case “Everybody (Dubois Bros Back).”
The song I Want It That Way stands out as the whole heart of the show as it changes narrative from its beginning stance to its ending emotional statement. It’s not just Juliet that discovers what she truly wants in life.
When you have a talented cast on stage, it’s often difficult to point out standout performances. With that said, there are folks that deserve that acknowledgement. The chemistry between Shakespeare (CJ Eldred) and his wife, Anne Hathaway (Crystal Kellogg), demands your attention, as does their genius comic timing. It’s a perfect combination of talent and wit.
Another great duo — Lance (opening night played by Jared Alexander) and Angélique (Kathryn Allison) — who meet again after having an affair years ago, and yes, the attraction is still steamy. Again, great talent and comic timing.
Noah Marlowe takes and runs with the role of François. He is a joy to watch as is Fabiola Caraballo Quijada who plays Juliet. The energy and vivaciousness she possess will make you jealous. Her journey to self-awareness is fun to watch.
More Than a Pop Musical
I’d be remiss not to mention that the show includes flashing/strobe lighting, loud noises, and pyrotechnics throughout. Just be aware if you have any type of medical condition that those effects could trigger.
This is a show that you really need to listen to in order to catch all the subtle jokes and puns throughout. It’s a show that will make you sing out loud and dance in your seat. It will make you think about societal issues, love, and self-fulfillment. You’ll definitely listen to the words of Martin’s songs in the future.
What if this musical inspires you to have confidence in yourself? What if it makes you feel young again? What if it makes you rename Shakespeare’s original play to Juliet & Romeo.
What if & Juliet?
The show is recommended for age 8 and up. It includes some adult language.
& Juliet plays Altria Theater through Sunday, May 17. Tickets are avaible at BroadwayInRichmond.com.
Read RFM’s exclusive interview with cast member Bridgette Carey.
