What would happen if Juliet decided not to end it all when she finds Romeo dead? What would happen if when writing Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare’s wife, Ann, has a share of the writing and what we thought we knew about this well-known play is altered completely? For the better? For the worse? Well, we are here to find out.
With book by David West Read and Music and Lyrics by Swedish pop song writer, Max Martin and Friends, we are taken on a bright, exciting, loud journey of discovery, love, and the meaning of compromise.
The show opens with the company of players milling around the stage, interacting with the audience and treating us to some incredible dancing before an explosion of colour and life hits us and we are thrown into this rollercoaster of a story.
Matt Cardle is extremely likeable as Shakespeare, giving great vocals and a whole lot of humour throughout. His wife, Anne, played by the incredible Lara Denning, is on a whole other level in this show, with witty lines, great dance moves and the most amazing vocals. Denning completely steals the show on more than one occasion, especially during her heartfelt, raw rendition of That’s the Way it is. Stunning.
Gerardine Sacdalan is outstanding as Juliet, with a killer voice and a strength and determination that has you fighting her corner right through the show.
Sandra Marvin as Angelique and Ranj Singh as Lance are brilliant in their respective roles, giving a great amount of humour and some fantastic vocals. May (Jordan Broatch) and François (Kyle Cox) are wonderful characters, and their particular storyline was a great hit with the audience tonight, receiving great reactions and applause.
Jack Danson as Romeo has a pretty relaxed first act but when he does enter the show, he enters with a bang and impresses immensely with huge vocals and some hilarious lines.
This company certainly know how to deliver a show and each and every person on stage shines so bright and work so hard to give the audience one of the best theatre experiences around.
Costuming is fun and has a great twist of eras and hair and wigs look incredible.
Choreography by Jennifer Weber is outstanding, so inventive and full of energy, with incredible direction by Luke Sheppard, thinking outside of the box to give this show something that will relate to everyone.
& Juliet has probably the best lighting plot I’ve seen on stage in a long time, possibly ever, thanks to Lighting designer Howard Hudson, supported by incredible Video designs and animation by Andrzej Fallacaro.
The band sounded fantastic, led by Musical director Marcus Carter-Adams and the sound was brilliant, something that can be a little hit and miss in the Empire, so huge well done to the sound team for creating an all-round fantastic sound.
& Juliet is entertaining from start to finish with an extremely hard-working company and will leave shouting for more by the end.
With a brilliant soundtrack that will leave the audience dancing in their seats, if you want a show that has a bit of everything and will leave you with the biggest smile on your face, get yourself along to the Liverpool Empire this week and be immersed in this mega show and fully entertained by this phenomenal company.
Running until Saturday 2nd November 2024 with tickets available at https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire/
Reviewer: Damian Riverol
Reviewed: 28th October 2024
North West End UK Rating:
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