& Juliet Review by Madeline Cook

Let me take you back to the 1500’s, to Shakespeare’s prime. But something is… different. A young woman is hanging from a chandelier and her deceased husband comes back to life. The musical & Juliet features a fun combination of silly chaos and clever chuckles as it brings the story of Romeo and Juliet from the page to the stage. But there’s a twist: What if Juliet had not killed herself? The popular jukebox musical & Juliet plays out what could have been if Juliet made a different decision after she woke up and saw that Romeo (Daniel J. Maldonado) was dead. The show kicks off with Shakespeare’s wife, Anne Hathaway (Teal Wicks), explaining that she does not want Juliet (Rachel Simone Webb) to kill herself: She longs for one of Shakespeare's romantic plays to end happily, just once. With creative outfits, impressive singing, and comedic actors, & Juliet pleases the eyes and ears as Juliet grabs the wheel to take control of her own life. 
     The funky, colorful outfits in & Juliet create a stunning mix of flashy modern pop fashion and proper 1600’s attire. From ruffled shoulders and tight corsets to poofy mini skirts and bright white sneakers, the mash-up of styles somehow work together to define the mood of the show. Juliet’s costumes feature the best of this mix. At one point Juliet’s sports a spunky magenta skirt and satin vest covered with joyous gold highlights. But the best part of the outfit are the silky ruffles on her sleeves, which when combined with the other elements of the costume, brings together a colorful ensemble that perfectly portrays Juliet’s vibrant spirit.
Juliet’s outfits aren’t the only captivating part of her character. Rachel Simone Webb, the stellar actress who plays Juliet, shows off a voice that is one of the best parts of the show. When Webb sings, her full, rich voice rises above the boisterous bass and high energy orchestra. Webb’s phenomenal singing really shines during the song “Roar,” where her voice fills the house with a loud yet pure tone that imports Katy Perry energy into Shakespearean time. 
     This show isn’t just a sensory spectacle, it is also a very clever and witty piece of literary stagecraft. The funniest character by far in this show is the man who wrote the original story himself, William Shakespeare. Played by Corey Mach, the mischievous William Shakespeare embraces all kinds of opportunities to say and do funny things. For example, during the song “I Want it That Way,” Shakespeare keeps telling Anne that he wants Romeo and Juliet to end in tragedy. As the song continues, Shakespeare keeps singing “I want it that way” more and more aggressively. With a potent combination of & Juliet’s funny lines and spectacular comedic timing, the Bard (Mach) steals the spotlight and practically demolishes the fourth wall.
     The impressive spectacle & Juliet is a fun retelling of Shakespeare’s most famous play that will finally release you from Shakespeare’s original ending and send you on an imaginative journey of “what ifs?” The whimsical storyline is a bit absurd, a little weird, and lots of fun, but I’m not giving out spoilers: Go check it out for yourself at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis. Get your tickets at hennepinarts.org! This is a really fun show to see with your friends, and make sure you leave time after the show to go out and debate about what it means to refuse to embrace tragedy and finally take control of your fate.