4 reasons you must watch & Juliet Musical coming to Sands Theatre, Singapore: Review
Singapore, get ready to sing and dance with & Juliet Musical, it's first and only Asian stop, from 21 September to 15 October 2023. Get your tickets today!
Ahead of & Juliet Musical’s first and only stop in Asia, Yahoo Life Singapore was invited by Base Entertainment Asia to Melbourne's oldest theatre, the Regent Theatre, for a night of campy, riotous fun that is & Juliet Musical. There’s never a dull moment during the musical, with plot twists in scenes you never expect. The motley crew we went with enjoyed every moment of the musical. Oh, where do I begin? Without spoiling the plot, here are four reasons why you should get your tickets to & Juliet Musical pronto!
1. Witty scriptwriting and a solid soundtrack
First, this play-within-a-play concept is penned by Emmy Award-winning writer of Schitt’s Creek, David West Read. Those familiar with the scriptwriter's work will know they are in for a treat. In & Juliet musical, Juliet’s story gets remixed, with or without Romeo. You are on the right track if you sense a woman empowerment story coming up.
But what is a musical without a solid soundtrack? Helmed by legendary five-time Grammy award-winning songwriter/producer Max Martin’s 30 years of chart-topping tunes, including popular songs from Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys and more, there were many moments when the musical felt like a rock concert. But if you think this is a jukebox musical, oh no, it is so much more. To provide a greater perspective, more than 75 Max Martin songs have made it to the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 Singles since his music breakthrough in 1995.
As with all movies, stories, plays and musicals, the storyline is vital. Max Martin and his wife, who is also the musical's co-producer, truly understand this. The couple explored various ideas for ten years, but nothing came to fruition as the storytelling did not fall into place. That is until they met David West Read. That's when a solid soundtrack meets witty scriptwriting, making for a musical paradise made in heaven.
I’ve always been fascinated by storytelling. I want people who haven’t heard any of the songs to come in and be intrigued by the story.Max Martin
2. It is truly for everyone
In this world and age, you may think, who has yet to hear of pop hits by one as legendary as Max Martin? That was precisely what happened. Believe it or not, one member from our group, who is classically trained and well-versed in playing the violin and several other musical instruments, has yet to learn who Backstreet Boys are (say what?!). To our huge surprise, he, who has barely heard most of the popular mainstream songs in the soundtrack, including I Want It That Way, Roar, Baby, and One More Time, thoroughly enjoyed the show. Max Martin has undoubtedly hit the right notes with & Juliet Musical. For Gen Xers and Millennials, the music element in & Juliet Musical will take them on a nostalgic ride through their growing-up years. The running themes of personal growth, self-discovery, and female empowerment are woven within the script so cleverly and will no doubt resonate with Gen Zs.
The wit and banter between the characters are one of the many outstanding aspects of the musical. But what truly elevates this show making it more than just an entertaining piece, is how it pushes boundaries. Our strict IMDA rating system indicates how the Singapore arts scene is evolving, and for now, this energetic live performance is rated Advisory 16 (Some Mature Content). I shall leave you to discover why. All I can say is to come with an open mind and not be discouraged from partaking in this high-powered live musical, though.
3. Impressive performances & airtime for the main cast
& Juliet musical starts with a simple premise by Anne Hathaway – not the Hollywood actress – but the wife of acclaimed playwright William Shakespeare.
“What if Juliet didn’t kill herself?” And that is the premise that kickstarted a whole new world for Juliet. I found myself rooting for Hathaway when she wrote herself into the script (You go woman!). You must catch the show to find out how the story goes!
This musical's exploration of themes like coming-of-age, self-discovery, acceptance, and female empowerment makes it different from Shakespeare's original Romeo & Juliet and other jukebox musicals. It also does not shy away from sensitive topics such as gender fluidity. Clever writing from Schitt’s Creek co-writer David West Read ensures the musical stays uplifting with none of the preachiness.
Of course, a solid script works only with a solid cast to flesh out the characters. The performance we caught in Melbourne featured unforgettable and fun performances from Amy Lehpamer as Anne Hathaway, Rob Mills as William Shakespeare, Jesse Dutlow as May, Julius D’Silva as Lance, Casey Donovan as Angelique and Blake Appelqvist as Romeo Montague. Every cast member gave their all and you can feel their chemistry on-stage.
4. Dazzling lights, confetti cannons, colourful sets, stunning costumes & a swing up in the air
The show fulfils all the trademarks of a jukebox musical, yet so much more. Part pop concert, the musical manages to work in so many relevant threads, from self-discovery journeys not just for the leading role of Juliet, but for May, Juliet’s BFF, and Anne (Shakespeare’s wife). The musical also explores the power dynamics between Shakespeare and his wife, Juliet’s nurse Angelique finding love with her lover Lance when Juliet has grown up and no longer needs her, and Romeo coming to terms with his self-absorption.
The tight choreography, dazzling confetti and sparklies, colourful sets, and superb costumes by the award-winning Paloma Young complete the musical. Kudos to the hardworking team behind-the-scenes, from costume, sets, makeup and more, who help put together the musical, making & Juliet such a visually appealing production.
Watch our Yahoo-exclusive behind-the-scenes tour with affable cast member Yashith Fernando who plays Francois, who is involved in a love triangle with Juliet and BFF.
Is & Juliet worth watching?
I could go on and sing my praises towards the casting of the diverse cast members from Aboriginal, Filipino and Sri Lankan communities, the live band playing every night, and how the musical pushes boundaries non-threateningly. No wonder the show has a stack of accolades and awards accreditation such as 9 Tony Awards nominations, Winner of 6 WhatsOnStage Awards and 3 Olivier Awards.
Yahoo Life Singapore also spoke with Singaporeans based in Melbourne, and the feedback was unanimously positive.
“I enjoyed the funny and witty script (not stuffy nor too serious) with current issues of female empowerment, gender issues explored in a non-threatening manner. The way they were able to weave songs of the last 3 decades so appropriately into the storyline was brilliantly done… The singing and dancing was of a high standard. Would have liked more cultural representation in the cast. Definitely some Asians would be good.” says Peter Koh who has been staying in Melbourne for 20 years.
“The show was witty and highlighted the empowerment of women. The way they intertwined popular pop songs into the story was brilliant.” says Steven Ho has been residing in Melbourne for the past 15 years.
Whether you are a fan of the Bard or not, you should give & Juliet Musical the time it deserves.
