Once upon a time, many centuries ago, a guy named William Shakespeare wrote a play called “Romeo & Juliet”. Today, it is required reading for almost all high school freshmen. Boy meets girl, they fall in love, and they secretly get married. To avoid parental wrath, she takes a sleeping potion to make them think she’s dead, boy thinks she’s dead and kills himself. She wakes up, sees his dead body, and kills herself. What if…
The newest Broadway tour performance to delight Kansas City is a musical called “& Juliet”. The premise is, “What if Juliet doesn’t kill herself?” Juliet, played by Fabiola Caraballo Quijada, finds herself caught between the world of what is expected of her and a world of endless possibilities. The world of endless possibilities is as limited as the one she left, and she finds herself in the same trap of expectations.
The show has a hip 90s vibe that works incredibly well for this production, with the company performing hits penned by powerhouse songwriter Max Martin. Millenial anthems such as “Roar” (originally recorded by Katy Perry), “Baby One More Time” (by Britney Spears), and “Since U Been Gone” (Kelly Clarkson) highlight the production.
Costume designer Paloma Young provides a vision of modernized costumes that match the energy of the cast. The first act is almost non-stop movement as choreographer Jennifer Weber’s dance scenes flow seamlessly from one to another in rapid fire succession. Make no mistake; this cast is up for this fast mix of music and dance. The dances are fun and incorporate special effects of neon lights, confetti, sparklers, and riding on a chandelier.
In the background of the play, director Luke Sheppard has added a subtle play within a play. Will Shakespeare, played by CJ Eldred, and his wife Anne, played by Crystal Kellogg, are in a constant battle over how this play ends. He’s writing a tragedy, and she wants a happy ending for everyone.
It becomes a metaphor for their own marriage as Anne fights for recognition and attention from a husband who makes writing plays and sonnets a priority over her and their daughters. Their exchanges tend to be almost missed, but get feistier and come more to the forefront as the play progresses and as Juliet’s fate gets tied up in their own fate.
The second act is more somber as reality catches up to the players. The Capulets, played by Jared Alexander and Cayla Primous, find Juliet and give her an ultimatum. There are unexpected couples developing relationships that are seemingly doomed. However, they still manage some fantastic musical numbers that are highly entertaining.
By the end of the show, we have learned there are layers of love in everybody’s life. Some are good, some are bad, some are complicated, and there is always a chance to start over. It’s also okay to be independent and to wait for what you want.
& Juliet is playing nightly through Nov. 23 at the Music Hall, with matinees on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are available at BroadwayInKC.com.
