Anyone who regularly reads my articles will know that, apart from them needing therapy, I hate having the classics messed around with. If you think you can do it better then write your own play, even if you have to use the original idea. This is almost what happened here, the concept of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet was changed to imagine what would have happened if Juliet hadn’t committed suicide after the death of Romeo, and then they set it to music, at least having the decency to change the title. I say ‘almost’ because the new version of the story was also ostensibly written by William Shakespeare, although his quill was guided by the hand of his wife, Anne Hathaway, and no, that is not a euphemism.
Shakespeare, Matt Cardle – right, being talked down to by Anne Hathaway, Lara Denning
The show is based on a book by Davis West Read with music by Max Martin and Friends, but is basically a soundtrack of pop songs from the 1990s to the present. It begins with William Shakespeare, played by Matt Cardle, being berated by his wife, Anne Hathaway, Lara Denning, for writing a tragedy and she exerts her womanly wiles in order to ‘persuade’ him to lighten it up a bit. What follows is an evening of comedy, music, dance and general fun, which made the time fly by.
Juliet, Geraldine Sacdalan, with the cast in one of the more understated numbers.
I don’t know what I was expecting when I read the synopsis, but it wasn’t this. It turned out to be a cross between a juke box musical, a pantomime and Horrible Histories. The first element has already been explained, the show containing 29 bangers which, as in pantomime, are sung by the cast to fit the story. Another similarity was the corny jokes, mostly puns on Shakespeare’s works and the French accent à la ‘Allo ‘Allo. At one point in Paris, they form a group of five young male singers whose surname is, or isn’t, Du Bois – don’t ask – which Juliet, played by Geraldine Sacdalan, insists on pronouncing in an American accent as De Boy, hence they become De Boy Band. And that is one of the better ones. The Horrible Histories element is introduced by explanation of the home life of the Shakespeares, as well as the incredible contribution he made to the English language, ones not included were ‘critic’ and ‘barefaced’. No idea how those sprang to mind, I was probably either ‘bedazzled’ or ‘in a pickle’.
Juliet, Geraldine Sacdalon and François, Kyle Cox
Anyway, Juliet sets out on her new life with the help of Angeliqué, played by Sandra Marvin and May, Jordan Broatch, travelling from Shoreditch, where the action begins, to Paris, where they encounter François, Kyle Cox, and Angeliqués ex, Lance, Ranj Singh. It doesn’t take long for new romances to form, some triangular in shape, and old ones to be revisited, including one just before the interval which doesn’t seem possible and introduces a new character, played by Jack Danson.
Angeliqué, Sandra Marvin and Lance, Ranj Singh doing some catching up!
There are lots of twists and turns but all works out in the end, especially for the Shakespeares who rekindle their own flame and will live happily ever after, just as long as he keeps doing as he is told. Speaking of females asserting themselves, Angeliqué acts as though it is Leap Year Day by proposing marriage to Lance in such a way that even a response of ‘Let me think about it’, would not have been wise.
The mystery guest, played by Jack Danson – Don’t tell anyone but it’s Romeo.
The acting was uniformly superb, I can’t stress enough how well they all handled the comedy, switching to pathos in the blink of an eye – not one of the bard’s phrases. The dancing on a par with anything I have ever seen in a musical and the singing – well – immense. Sandra Marvin’s voice was strong and soulful, as was that of Geraldine Sacdalan, but the showstopper, literally, was Lara Denning’s incredible rendition of Celine Dion’s That’s The Way It Is. Not a dry eye in the house.
May, Jordan Broatch, with François, Kyle Cox
The show was imaginatively directed by Luke Sheppard with Set Designer Sutra Gilmour providing some breathtaking moments. The band, under the Musical Director and keyboard player Marcus Carter-Adams, just kept the hits coming. All the creatives deserve a mention but there are loads of them, as was reflected by the overall effect. A great team effort.
If you fancy a fun night out to get you into the festive spirit a month early, then makest thy way unto Leeds Grand Theatre, where ‘all the world’s a stage’. You will leave far more uplifted than when you arrived, even when being met by a snowstorm in New Briggate!
&Juliet runs until 30th November. For more information and tickets it’s https://leedsheritagetheatres.com/whats-on/and-juliet-2024/
For details of other shows at Leeds Heritage Theatres (The Grand Theatre, City Varieties and Hyde Park Picture House) go to https://leedsheritagetheatres.com/whats-on/
For further tour venues and dates see https://www.andjulietthemusical.co.uk/
Photography by Matt Crocket
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