& JULIET, UK Tour (2014) Review
Written by Kirsty for Theatre and Tonic.
The popular jukebox musical featuring the music of super producer Max Martin has taken the world by storm since its first performances at Manchester Opera House in 2019. There is no more fitting place for the UK tour to start off than where it all began this summer.
&Juliet is the story of what would happen if Juliet didn’t die at the end of the Shakespeare classic, rather she moves to Paris to live her life with a few bumps along the way. With so many recognisable songs such as “Teenage Dream”, “I Want it That Way” and “Roar” it is a true trip down memory lane for those of us who are still in our 20s, we wish.
X Factor winner Matt Cardle makes a triumphant return to musical theatre playing William Shakespeare to perfection, he brings Shakespeare to life with comic timing and real heart, especially in his scenes with Lara Denning’s Anne Hathaway. From the opening of “Larger Than Life” it is clear that Cardle is a consummate performer and through the show, he gets stronger and stronger.
Jack Danson plays Romeo, and he steals every scene he is in. His performance of “It’s My Life” had the audience in the palm of his hand and his chemistry with Gerardine Sacdalan’s Juliet is wonderful which was shown to perfect effect in “One More Try”. You couldn’t help but root for Romeo even though he is always a bit of a douche.
Gerardine Sacdalan is the perfect Juliet, her performance is heartfelt and playful. Her vocals are flawless with “Blow” being a particular highlight. It is hard to believe that this marks Sacdalan’s professional debut, she commands the stage with the poise of a performer who has been doing this for years. It is clear that Sacdalan has an amazing future ahead of her, and we can’t wait to see her grow even stronger as a performer. Her Juliet is emotionally savvy, and this is particularly evident in her later scenes with Denning’s Anne Hathaway. Her rendition of “Roar” received rapturous applause and she deserves every applause and standing ovation. We see her take Juliet on a true journey of self-discovery and her chemistry with Kyle Cox’s Francois was another highlight.
Cox played Francois with a geeky edge which made it unlike any other Francois I had seen, and he truly shone in the scenes with Jordan Broatch’s May. Their duets “I Kissed a Girl” and “Whataya Want From Me” had you rooting for the couple to succeed in spite of the obstacles put in their way. Broatch brought a real vulnerability to May and their rendition of “Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman” was tender and truly emotional.
Sandra Marvin shines as Angelique, and she steals every scene she is in. Marvin’s proven comedic timing is always there and her vocal ability is just f****** perfect. Her scenes with Ranj Singh’s Lance were so funny, but her emotional scenes with Sacdalan were performed with the right level of heart and emotion.
Lara Denning as Anne Hathaway was undoubtedly the star of the show. Her scenes with Cardle’s Shakespeare were hilarious and emotional especially in the closing scenes where we see her question Shakespeare’s love for her. Her scenes as April were always perfectly timed and her unbridled joy in songs such as “Domino” and “Blow” was a joy to watch. However, her standout moment was her perfect rendition of “That’s the Way It Is”, Denning’s vocal prowess was shown with wonderful control and tear-jerking emotion. It is clear that there will only ever be one Anne Hathaway and Denning is the perfect Anne.
Luke Sheppard’s directorial choices alongside Jennifer Weber’s choreography are exemplary and the ensemble cast shows this perfectly and they are all truly wonderful. Soutra Gilmour’s new set design with some changes to ensure that the show will work around the country is still a beautiful backdrop for the show.
For me, there isn’t a weak number in the show, but everyone waits for is De Bois Band and their performance of the Backstreet Boys classic “Everybody”. This number does not disappoint and it is true that we all love a Bois Band.
For fans of the West End original, the new tour version is just as memorable, and I for one can’t wait to make a return visit to Paris and Verona.
At Manchester Opera House until 20 July as part of a wider UK Tour until June 2025.
★ ★ ★ ★
