Breaking the Mold of the Jukebox Musical: ‘& Juliet’ at the Orpheum
Oops, they did it again. The latest jukebox musical, & Juliet arrived at the Orpheum Theater on July 3rd… The show posits the question: ‘What if Juliet didn’t stab herself after discovering her dead Romeo?’
The character named ‘Anne Hathaway’ played by the talented Teal Wicks is the wife of William Shakespeare (played by Corey Mach). Together, they work some magic and some couples therapy into a tale that will have you rethinking the meaning behind some of your favorite songs.
& Juliet is fueled by 32 hits by iconic Swedish pop songwriter/producer Max Martin and written by David West Read of Schitt’s Creek fame, the story is predictable but completely pleasant (they play those tropes and deus ex machina devices hard). Unless you have been living under a rock for the past several decades, you will know most of the ubiquitous pop songs that make up the show. Hits from Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, Backstreet Boys, and Katy Perry, just to name a few are used to fun advantage to tell an updated version of Romeo & Juliet.
Spurred by Anne’s need for a more cheerful ending, Juliet (an incandescent Rachel Simone Webb) wakes to discover her dead Romeo. Because the romance was a mere four days old, Juliet decides to live on and attends his funeral. She soon discovers that Romeo played around and dropped the same lines on many, many other girls. Despondent and betrayed, Juliet decides to skip out on being sent to the nunnery and instead heads to Paris with her nurse (Kathryn Allison) as well as her two best friends, April and non-binary May (Nick Drake).
More star-crossed lovers abound among them love for May in the form of Francois, the retiring son of Lance (Paul-Jordan Jansen) who discovers that Juliet’s maid is his long-lost love. Lovers pair and unpair in the manner of Shakespearean comedies at their best. Despite the Hollywood happy plot, the cast gives their all, landing the jokes with peak timing. And though we have heard these songs a thousand times before, you have not heard what Webb can do with “Hit Me Baby One More Time.”
The clever way the songs fit into the narrative both delights and hits in unexpected ways. For instance, did you know that Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life” makes for a perfect undead anthem? The Backstreet Boys “I Want It That Way” becomes a vehicle for arguing plot points and it really works. Who knew?
Confetti will fly, dance numbers will impress, and Soutra Gilmour’s set will dazzle. &Juliet works because it knows exactly what it is and has the grace to make fun of itself while giving a fantastic show. Directed by Luke Sheppard, you do not want to miss your chance to see this sparkly gem before it flies out of town.
& Juliet runs through July 27th, 2025 at the Orpheum Theater in San Francisco.
For tickets visit broadwaysf.com
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