Smash hit jukebox musical & Juliet is in Singapore and I know many who are excited about it. Singapore is its only stop in Asia.
After all, it has an intriguing premise; the musical reimagines Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy Romeo & Juliet, wherein Juliet didn’t take her own life upon Romeo’s death. Instead, accompanied by her nurse and a group of friends, she embarks on a journey to Paris to discover herself.
What’s more, the musical features a contemporary pop soundtrack with hits by legendary five-time GRAMMY award-winning songwriter-producer Max Martin, including Britney Spears’ Baby One More Time, Katy Perry’s Roar, and Backstreet Boys’ Larger Than Life, so you’re guaranteed to see your body sway, c’mon.
I had a blast grooving to the music and laughing at every joke; so much so that I almost felt guilty realising that I didn’t love the musical.
So, I have good news and bad news; which do you want to hear first? Well, studies show that most people prefer the bad news first, so here we go.
Why I won’t want & Juliet to Hit Me One More Time
One of the key messages of the show is Juliet’s pursuit of freedom of choice, her decision to live life fully instead of ending it. Unfortunately, I can’t fully support this plot foundation.
In Shakespeare’s version, I see Juliet as an enlightened woman who demonstrated independent thinking.
Imagine a young teenager in the 16th century defying her family’s wishes and societal norms, bravely pursuing her love for Romeo. In fact, she boldly pursued him and even proposed to him with the words “If that thy bent of love be honourable, thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow.”
Ultimately, she took control of her destiny by choosing to end her life on her own terms, never coerced into the suicide, and resolutely opting for the painful act of stabbing herself.
For these reasons, the plot foundation of & Juliet felt shaky for me, as it attempted to depict the “new” Juliet as a stronger character than Shakespeare’s original. Why fix something that wasn’t broken and make an earnest effort to “out-feminise” a character already rooted in feminism?
The intended message didn’t resonate with me; it felt forced.
Additionally, there were several potential storylines and character developments that could have been explored more deeply.
(Note: spoiler after this photo.)
(Spoiler below, highlight the blank space to reveal spoiler.)
May’s struggle with gender identity, Francois Du Bois’s denial of his love for May, the messy love quadrangle among Juliet, Romeo, May, and Francois, Anne’s desire to be acknowledged by Shakespeare… these are plotlines that could have added significant dramatic tension but seemed to receive only cursory treatment.
In fact, even Juliet’s journey of self-discovery, which serves as the central plot of the musical, felt obscured and indistinct.
I understand that the musical was already quite lengthy at 2.5 hours, but it also felt like a deliberate choice to prioritise crowd-pleasing singalong sessions over delving deeper into the story.
When I attend a musical, I’m always looking for moments that make me laugh out loud, scenes that bring tears to my eyes, or powerful messages that give me goosebumps – ideally, all of these in one show. Unfortunately, & Juliet only managed to deliver the laugh-out-loud moments, leaving me entertained but somewhat unfulfilled.
But here’s why I still Can’t Stop The (good) Feeling
I may have critiqued the show quite a bit by this point, and you might think I had a terrible time; but surprise, surprise – I didn’t.
In fact, this was one of the most entertaining musicals I have ever attended. It felt like a massive pop music party to which everyone was invited to.
Fans of the Backstreet Boys are in for a treat because & Juliet is like a mini BSB cover concert. It kicks off with Larger Than Life and continues with five more of the band’s top hits, including As Long As You Love Me and I Want It That Way.
In comparison to musicals with original music that you might be hearing for the first time during the performance, & Juliet features radio-friendly tunes that everyone knows and loves.
The excitement in the audience when these iconic pop songs played was infectious. At many points, I could see audience members swaying to the music, lifting their hands, or softly singing along to the songs. (Singaporean audiences are quite polite that way.)
During the final song, Can’t Stop the Feeling!, most of us were on our feet, singing, dancing, and cheering along with the cast as they invited us to do so.
There were also two fantastic mash-ups: Problem (Ariana Grande) with Can’t Feel My Face (The Weeknd) and Teenage Dream (Katy Perry) with Break Free (Ariana Grande). They were surprising, fun, and breathed new life into these familiar tunes.
The jokes were well-crafted and delivered impeccably by the cast. I appreciated the puns, “Dad” jokes, and the subtle incorporation of Shakespearean lines. There was even a playful jab at Justin Timberlake’s pronunciation of “It’s gonna be me” in the NSYNC song which has become a meme every April, eliciting some giggles from the audience.
To watch or not to watch, that is the question
Still undecided about buying those tickets? I’d say it depends on your expectation.
& Juliet has a somewhat shaky narrative that appears too eager to please and overly enthusiastic about embracing the “woke” culture that resonates with the younger generation. If you’re watching with a critical eye or expecting to be deeply moved by the story, you might be better off with a good book.
However, the production boasts a talented and diverse ensemble.
In particular, Lorinda May Merrypor, who plays Juliet, delivers an outstanding performance in both singing and acting. The set design and lighting are visually pleasing, and the music and choreography are mostly brilliant.
If you’re looking for a night of catchy tunes and dancing to the well-loved hits from Max Martin’s extensive musical catalogue, this entertaining production might be right up your alley.
In other words, bring your best dance moves and singing voice; leave your brain at home and enjoy the fun.
& Juliet runs from now till 15 October 2023 at Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands. Ticket prices start from S$68 for the E Reserve Grand Circle. AVENUE ONE readers can enjoy a 20% discount on tickets by clicking on this link.
