Tragedy Turned Triumph: & Juliet by Maddy Campbell

Who needs Romeo when you have self-worth, a glitter cannon, and a chance to write your own ending? It’s certainly not Juliet! In David West Read and Max Martin’s & Juliet, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is reimagined to uplift independence and femininity. The show begins at the end of the Shakespeare classic by asking the question: What if Juliet decided to not die alongside her lover and instead move on? What follows is a high energy performance that is fun all around. Although I found the jukebox format occasionally distracting and disjointed, this tour delivers a visually dynamic and unapologetically modern interpretation that is sure to be a night well spent at the theater.

Overall, the whole vibe of & Juliet stood out to me. The contrast of the classical Shakespearean characters with a modern street-style production brought a new life to this iconic story. My favorite element of this production was the set design by Soutra Gilmour. The urban playground and graffiti-splashed style cleverly reflects the show's pop music and growth of Juliet into a modern woman, rather than a tragic maiden. My favorite utilization of the set is in the song “Roar”, the song where Juliet finally regains her power and femininity. In this song she is on a balcony-like raised platform, representative of the balcony in Romeo and Juliet that she waits for her lover on, while belting out Katy Perry’s bold feminist anthem. This was particularly clever because she is reclaiming the balcony as a symbol of her growth in this show stopping celebration of a number.

Also fitting into the scaffolded feel of the show was choreography by Jennifer Weber. Her iconic hip hop style fits perfectly into the modern energy of & Juliet. It brought life to the ensemble numbers, especially “Problem/Can’t Feel My Face” in Act Two. As a dancer myself I loved the relentless energy that turned the stage into a pulsating pop video. The dancing was flirtatious, captivating, and made me want to go and learn it myself. 

My only issue with the dancing was that I wanted MORE of it. There were many scenes that had minimal choreography, or numbers that lacked it altogether. My favorite moments were the big numbers with intricate staging and choreo, and I would have liked to see that more. 

For me, the most standout performance was from Kathryn Allison as Angélique. Her dynamic vocals and charming personality brought the reimagined character of Juliet’s nurse, now with sass and agency, to life. Instead of being part of the cause of Juliet’s death, she is a mentor that facilitates her rebirth. Through her fun, yet moving, performance of “Fuckin’ Perfect,”Allison captured this energy perfectly.

The main criticism that I have with & Juliet is the flow of the story with the jukebox soundtrack. Act One established a more satirical tone, with the popular songs used playfully–either to undercut serious situations or to create humorous pairings, like masculine characters singing overtly female hits. In Act Two, however, the tone shifted noticeably. It leaned more into more sincere solos and duets, leading to a mismatched vibe with the earlier irreverence. At times I even felt as if Read wrote in plot twists just to fit a song in, leading to a fragmented feeling in the plotline. 

Despite my dislike in aspects of the jukebox soundtrack, I genuinely enjoyed this show. The clever staging, dancing, and empowering message made for an unforgettable experience. If you are someone looking to feel emboldened by a fun, “Larger Than Life”, pop concert, & Juliet is the show for you! Catch this musical at the Orpheum in Minneapolis until May 18th–you might just leave with a little more sparkle than you came in with.