A review from 5D Music & Theatre writer Maria Robertson.
Production photos by Matt Crockett http://www.mattcrockett.com
On entering the theatre we see a jukebox on the stage and this is a quintessential jukebox musical. So many wonderful songs we can sing along to in our heads, but carefully reworked into the story of Juliet, or should that be the story of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway? Lara Denning plays the latter, and stole the show for me. She has an amazing stage presence and absolutely awesome vocals. The story follows her changing the ending of the traditional Romeo and Juliet to give the star crossed lovers a second chance, or at least to give Juliet a choice in how her life could go on. As well as the plot change for Shakespeare’s classic there is also the underlying current of their own marital issues and Anne’s wish to be more than just a stay at home wife and Mother. She too grows as a character as the plot continues.
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Jay McGuinness, of The Wanted, plays Shakespeare which was special for me as the first concert review I ever wrote was of his band when they played the AECC in 2012. Another chart name featuring in the show is Lee Latchford-Evans of Steps, playing Lance, the French father – a brilliant character, very well acted. Juliet is perfectly played by Geraldine Sacdalan who has a fantastic voice and brought the songs to life most effectively.
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It was fascinating to see how well known lyrics from popular songs were twisted to fit the dialogue of the & Juliet story. Some of them were just perfect, but a totally different angle to how you have listened them before. Juliet singing Britney’s Oops really made me laugh. It was also an interesting mixture of the old, of Shakespeare and his traditional story, and the new of Anne’s modern twist to the story. Even the costumes, designed by Paloma Young, were a collab of the old and the new with Victorian style pantaloons worn with a pink hoodie. All the songs were modern and funky, and the dancing was too. To keep it very “up to the modern day” there was also a non binary character, May played by Jordan Broatch, although it was pointed out in the narrative that Shakespeare himself liked to challenge the gender binary, so maybe this is not such a modern concept as some of us may think.
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All in all it was a magical rollercoaster of an evening, some unexpected twists and turns, some fabulous songs that you sang along to in your head and some gorgeous costumes and set design. The plot was a little complicated with the fictional romance story of Juliet interwoven into William and Anne’s real life struggles of married life, but it all came together in an entertaining manner. Definitely one worth watching and will leave you with a spring in your step and love in your heart.
Further information: https://www.andjulietthemusical.co.uk/
Maria Robertson is the Chief Music & Theatre Writer for the 5D Pop Culture Website and provides reviews & coverage of local Aberdeen music & theatre gigs. She’s an experienced writer for numerous sources and is a self-confessed live gig addict ever since seeing The Counting Crows at the Barrowlands in 1994.
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