I think just about everyone has heard of William Shakespeare’s classic play Romeo and Juliet dubbed “the greatest love story of all-time.” And we recall the extremely sad and tragic ending where both star-crossed lovers took their own lives at such a young age.
Well, Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre is the venue for the launch of the 30-city American tour of & Juliet, a contemporary jukebox musical reimagining the “what-if” possibilities had Juliet not met her demise after all.
With songs by the Grammy-winning Swedish pop songwriter/producer Max Martin, a book by the Emmy-winning writer from Schitt’s Creek, David West Read, direction by Luke Sheppard and choreography by Emmy-Award winner Jennifer Weber, & Juliet is a triumph in its touring debut. The Broadway production received nine Tony Award nominations including Best Musical in 2022. The high-energy, electric show featuring a largely youthful and attractive cast marks the beginning of the Hippodrome’s 2024-2025 Season.
The visuals are amazing. Dazzling lighting by Howard Hudson splashes the stage with hue-rich splendor. Between that and the video and projection design by Andrezej Goulding, the effects are eye-popping and is a veritable light show. They enhance the imaginative scenery designed by Soutra Gilmour that employ drop-down scenery and numerous set pieces that smoothly transition to the various scenes. Paloma Young’s costume design ably and colorfully mixes 15th century English attire with contemporary garments.
An example of superb staging occurs during the moving original song “One More Try.” The presentation is spectacular using all the technical power these folks command. Also, Gareth Owen’s crystal-clear sound design is top-notch.
The largely familiar and toe-tapping numbers are a joy and comical as the lyrics fit in neatly with the dialogue on stage. The precise, energetic dancing by the cast adds even more. Read’s book provides the farce story with its head-scratching improbabilities.
But it is the uber talented, diverse cast plus the extraordinary work of the technical crew, orchestration and costumes that make this hilarious and at times, poignant show excel. These elements blend so well under the deft hand of multiple award-winning Luke Sheppard whose meticulous direction guides the cast and crew to reach a high level of quality musical theatre.
Songs by some of the world’s most familiar and successful artists like the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Bon Jovi, Katy Perry, *NSYNC, Céline Dion, Kelly Clarkson and others augment the wacky story. Musical Conductor Andre Cerullo and the seven-piece orchestra marvelously back up the vocalists.
As William Shakespeare (Corey Mach) is about to introduce his newest play Romeo and Juliet to the audience, his wife Anne Hathaway (Teal Wicks) intervenes (some might call it meddling) with suggestions on how the play needs a better ending. They go back and forth but Anne pitches the idea that what if Juliet did not take her own life and instead pursues a life of her own whereby she is in control of her destiny.
She prevailed, but it wasn’t easy.
Juliet (Rachel Simone Webb), after attending the funeral of Romeo where she learned he had dated others including men, embarks on a trip to Paris to avoid being forced by her parents to join a convent. She brings her non-binary best friend May (Nick Drake), her nurse Angélique (Kathryn Allison) and Anne who writes herself into the play as another friend April.
At a party in a Parisian club for young François (Mateus Leite Cardoso) set up by his overbearing father Lance (Paul-Jordan Jansen), Juliet and her friends crash the event. Not only does Juliet connect with François but so does May. This entanglement is a major part of the plot.
"...it is the uber talented, diverse cast plus the extraordinary work of the technical crew, orchestration and costumes that make this hilarious and at times, poignant show excel."
As I previously noted the story contains a multitude of improbabilities. So, how’s this one—Romeo (Michael Canu) returns from the dead to vie for Juliet’s heart once more. In addition, nurse Angélique had a previous affair with the then-married Lance and father of François and somehow hooks up with him again!
I will leave it there because there are many choices to be made and watching them unfold is central to the storyline.
Who will Juliet wind up with—Romeo or François whom she got engaged to take the pressure off of him put on by Lance. Or, does she choose at all?
What about François and May? They had a great connection but François, or Frankie as he’s referred to in the show, was set to marry Juliet.
What’s to become of Romeo now that he came back from the dead? Does he win over Juliet again?
What about Lance and Angélique? Do they make their relationship permanent?
And there's Shakespeare and Anne. That marriage is in jeopardy because the former’s love for his works and Anne thinks she takes a backseat to that. Do they reconcile amid that competition for his heart?
And finally, Juliet herself. Does she forge her own destiny given this second chance?
These many what-ifs are answered, and you will have to see the show to learn the outcome.
As the title character Juliet, Rachel Simone Webb is brilliant in her vocals and acting.
Ms. Webb conveys the overprotected and rebellious Juliet superbly. She performs in many of the show’s numbers either as a solo or in groups where her vocals shine. “Baby One More Time,” “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman,” “Oops…I Did it Again,” “That’s the Way It Is,” and “Roar” are among those where Ms. Webb soars.
Juliet’s loving support of her friend May and the interactions with François and later Romeo are portrayed by Ms. Webb with charm and feeling.
Corey Mach, a 2024 Tony Award winner for his part in Merrily We Roll Along, plays the role of the famous Shakespeare with relish and campiness. Emphasizing the cockiness and hubris of the mostly comedic character, Mr. Mach demonstrates his versatility in acting and singing. His performances in the Backstreet Boys numbers “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back),” “As Long As You Love Me” and “I Want it That Way” are stellar. Mr. Mach’s interactions with Teal Wicks as his wife Anne show great chemistry between the two actors employing excellent timing and body language.
Teal Wicks as Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare’s wife and mother of their two daughters, is convincing in her portrayal of the strong-willed and critical character. Her repartee with Mr. Mach are marked by snappy rejoinders and provide much of the comedy in the show.
She has a marvelous soprano voice, which is evident in such songs as “I Want it That Way,” “Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely,” and “That’s the Way It Is.”
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| Rachel Simone Webb stars as Juliet |
One of the emotional highlights of the show is the portrayal of non-binary May by Nick Drake. They share their story to Juliet about how May struggles in a binary world. When May first encounters François, the moment is tender. Both are attracted to each other and comes off as genuinely warm.
Nick Drake brings sensitivity and sweetness to the character that is authentic and moving. The duet with Ms. Webb in “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman” Nick Drake hits the mark. They also perform well in the duet with Mr. Cardoso playing François in the Adam Lambert hit “Whataya Want From Me” when May expresses anger at François for ignoring their feelings and deciding to marry Juliet.
Mateus Leite Cardoso playing the young musician François is a sympathetic character, and he plays it very well. His domineering father Lance (Paul-Jordan Jansen) has extremely high expectations of him and offers him the choice: find a girl and get married or join the army. Not thrilled with either option, his encounter with both May and Juliet had given him hope. The confused François elicits empathy.
Mr. Cardoso performs well in such songs as “Overprotected”, a duet with Ms. Webb and the duet with Nick Drake “It’s Gonna Be Me.”
Paul-Jordan Jansen plays the gruff Lance expertly. Yet, his interactions with Angélique are as amusing as they are sweet. But his relationship with François is tense. Mr. Jansen displays a powerful baritone in arguably one of the most emotional numbers “Shape of My Heart.” Here Lance apologizes to François and accepts his relationship with May.
Kathryn Allison does a fine job in playing Angélique, Juliet’s loyal nurse and former and potentially future lover of Lance. She performs well in “Confident” and “Teenage Dream/Break Free” among others.
And then there’s good ole but miraculously alive Romeo played by Michael Canu. Still handsome after death, Romeo was resurrected by Shakespeare to bring some conflict to the plot. It did just that. Juliet was initially cool to him but Romeo could be persuasive in trying it again.
Mr.Canu plays the romantic role competently. He sings well in group numbers “It’s My Life,” “As Long As You Love Me” and “I Want It That Way” among others.
The remainder of the cast and Ensemble showcase their talents in augmenting the great work of the leads.
& Juliet is a stellar, highly entertaining production. I loved it. The audience loved it. And I have no doubt the future audiences on the tour will love it, too.
Running time. Two hours and 30 minutes with an intermission.
&Juliet runs through September 28 at the Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, 12 N. Eutaw St, Baltimore, MD 21201. For tickets, call Ticketmaster at 800-982-ARTS or visit ticketmaster.com or BaltimoreHippodrome.com.
Photos: Mathew Murphy
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