Review: & JULIET at BJCC Concert Hall
& JULIET at the BJCC Concert Hall apart of American Theatre Guild's Broadway in Birmingham 25-26 Season.
The national tour of & Juliet, which I caught at the BJCC Concert Hall, is filled with energy, strong performances, and elaborate visual spectacle. Built around a soundtrack of recognizable pop hits, the production reimagines Romeo and Juliet by asking a simple question: what if Juliet’s story did not end the way Shakespeare originally intended? The concept is entertaining with plenty of fun moments throughout the show, but the production often struggles to find a consistent identity.
Because & Juliet is a jukebox musical, a lot of the songs felt forced into the story simply because the audience would recognize them. Juliet’s storyline about independence and taking control of her own life was interesting to me, but the script kept interrupting it with side plots, jokes, and unnecessary twists. Romeo’s return was unnecessary and only made the story feel even more complicated. I get that it’s supposed to be complicated and slightly random soley because William and Anne can’t agree on what to write, but it could’ve been better executed.
With the overcomplicated story, I was glad to see the excellent and perfectly executed lighting design. It fully enhanced what was happening on stage, and never distracted from it. However, the massive LED screen in the background did become distracting. A lot of the bright graphics and animations pulled my attention away from the performers instead of adding to the scenes.
Besides the crowded plot, strange song choices, and distracting graphics, what kept me invested throughout the performance was the cast. Even when the story became confusing, the performers kept the energy high from beginning to end. Fabiola Caraballo Quijada brought a lot of personality to Juliet, especially through her outstanding vocal performance. The cast still manages to keep the comedy and vocals strong the entire time, even when the story itself begins to lose focus.
& Juliet is clearly a show that many audiences will enjoy, especially those looking for a loud, high-energy performance filled with recognizable music and strong performances. Even though I had fun watching such a talented cast, I left wishing the show had stayed focused on its original story and emotional moments instead of constantly trying to outdo and overcomplicate itself.
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