& Juliet is one of the best musicals of the 21st century. I wish I could see it again to give a more detailed review but if you can afford tickets and get to NYC, SEE IT! (It broke the box office record at the Sondheim Theater last week)
It’s because of Simon Cowell having the cast come on the finale of AGT to perform “Roar” that I immediately wanted to see the show. Everything about the number was memorizing and “goosebump” emotion excitement. Plus I knew Jack would love all the pop songs in it! I was wanting to jump out of my seat to sing and dance for most of the show, it was that uplifting and funny and motivating. And the ballads were just as emotional. I can’t think of one bad second in the whole production.
I don’t want to spoil too much because it’s really that good a musical to see without knowing too much, but here are some takeaways:
- Love the twist to Romeo and Juliet …and the twist before Act 2.
- All the actors were great– but especially Juliet (LORNA COURTNEY), Anne Hathaway (Betsy Wolfe), and the Nurse (MELANIE LA BARRIE)…and the new character May (JUSTIN DAVID SULLIVAN) does justice for all in the LGBTQ+ community.
- Only time I ever liked the song Backstreet’s back. SO HILARIOUS.
- I had no idea all the different songs were by Max Martin.
- “I’m not a girl not yet a woman” is definitely a powerful scene with May.
- “It’s my life” was a great way to close Act 1. And “Since U Been Gone” was beautifully done near the start of Act 2. And who doesn’t want “Can’t Stop the Feeling” as the closing number.
- “I can write plays, I can write plays for days, but there will never be another Anne Hathaway” – Shakespeare
- “Are we not doing accents?”
- “Are you a strong enough man to write a stronger woman?”
- I throughly enjoyed the simplicity of the costumes. They combined Shakespeare era ideals with modern thrift store clothing, resulting in the actors having ease in all the wonderful choreography.
- The sets were fabulous in a simplified yet flashy way too.
- Second row was good…third or fourth would be better if trying for close viewing.
I wish I could say more – but GO SEE IT!
Intrepid Oaks 