Broadway News: Allow Juliet to reintroduce herself. Or rather, let Anne Hathaway do it for her. No, not the Oscar-winning actress known for “The Devil Wears Prada.” The Anne Hathaway I’m referring to is William Shakespeare’s wife — the presumed inspiration behind his most famous love story, “Romeo & Juliet.” In the new musical “& Juliet,” however, Hathaway insists on being more than a muse. Unsatisfied with her husband’s affinity for tragedy, Hathaway steps up as co-auteur of a new version of the age-old story, one in which Juliet never takes a dagger to the heart, but rather, a trip to Paris with her besties. The confetti-laden chaos that ensues in David West Read’s hyper new musical currently running at Broadway’s Stephen Sondheim Theatre is part-pop music fantasia, part-failed feminist retelling, but all heart.
10 comments:
Just the title alone made me amused. I'm not sure how I missed the press about this before but it sounds silly and poppy in all the best ways. I love the description right off the bat about Anne Hathaway taking control of the narrative of Romeo and Juliet and I think that's a really interesting storytelling device. I feel like I am reading a spoof article and can't quite figure out what this plot and music would look like in an in-person production. It definitely has piqued my interest and I can't deny that I'd be very interested in seeing it. The addition of feminist undertones and a queer love story combined with 90’s pop seems just wild enough to work with today’’s audiences. The review is honest but positive and talks about a lot of really killer performances and creative team work. The line in this article about “what it lacks in foundation it makes up for in fun” seems right on the money for a show like this.
I have seen so much hype about this show and I really wish that I could see the show. It seems like a really great way to do Shakespeares work with a new twist. I really love that they completely changed the name by taking Romeo’s name out of the title because the story that they want to tell is Juliet’s but leaving the and in there was genius. I also love that this article highlights the queer love story that underbellies the show. I think that those stories aren’t highlighted enough in Shakespeare and the fact that this one does it makes me that much more of a fan of it.
It’s unfortunate that the Stage Manager isn’t mentioned in the credits but it’s something that the industry is striving towards more and more.
I also would have liked to see more in the article about the costume design because I think it’s really neat how they combined traditional Shakespeare looks and modern day looks as well.
Sorry, made a mistake and posted anon...
I have seen so much hype about this show and I really wish that I could see the show. It seems like a really great way to do Shakespeares work with a new twist. I really love that they completely changed the name by taking Romeo’s name out of the title because the story that they want to tell is Juliet’s but leaving the and in there was genius. I also love that this article highlights the queer love story that underbellies the show. I think that those stories aren’t highlighted enough in Shakespeare and the fact that this one does it makes me that much more of a fan of it.
It’s unfortunate that the Stage Manager isn’t mentioned in the credits but it’s something that the industry is striving towards more and more.
I also would have liked to see more in the article about the costume design because I think it’s really neat how they combined traditional Shakespeare looks and modern day looks as well.
I like the retelling of classics because it’s interesting to see the ways the same story can be recycled 100 times and every now and then there’s something that’s just pure fun like this spin off with Hathaway which reads as a rom com/ comedy more than anything. I do however wonder how many times a work like Romeo and Juliet will be the springboard for a new and upcoming project before it becomes obsolete/not reused anymore. I enjoy hearing there’s a queer storyline which makes this especially fun incorporation of Shakespeare as many of Shakespeare’s works were queer but never explicitly stated/accpeted in the time. The Backstreet Boys music sounds like a fun musical that’s different from the music in say Something Rotten. An element of this shows feasibility in my assumption however is that this is being produced because of Hathaway’s presence and fame.
A lot of people hear the basis of what & Juliet is about and are immediately confused. It’s been 26 years, why is there a musical about Juliet? And why is the story changed? However, reading deeper into it will change their mind. In the article, the quote “what “& Juliet” lacks in foundation, it more than makes up for in sheer fun. The placements of certain songs are jokes in themselves” (Broadway News) really hit me. Sometimes it’s nice to just go to a show like “& Juliet” and just have fun. Because & Juliet is a Jukebox musical, the songs are songs that we all know and are easy to just sit back and listen. However, this could also be a downfall. It’s hard for a show to cater to everyone's needs. Some people prefer musicals that don’t focus on the plot, while others do. I can see why people are turned off by & Juliet, but ever since I heard about it transferring to Broadway I have been dying to go.
& Juliet is a musical I have been increasingly hearing bits of information about as it has run on the West End, so it was interesting to read this review from the beginning of its run on Broadway and hear a little bit more in-depth about the show (at least from the reviewers perspective). I like the music they use in the show (I’ve listened to the soundtrack once or twice) and the way they use the jukebox musical style to their advantage. Sometimes shows are just fun, and I’m glad &Juliet fills this need. I do agree with the reviewer and other commenters that the lack of foundation of the show might lead to some people not seeing the show but I think that happens with any show as they all have such different styles. I personally would love to see this show - it seems like a really fun show to just go and enjoy.
I read "with Backstreet Boys" and clicked on the article with record speed. I haven't read it yet, but as a one-time pre-teen obsessed with the Backstreet Boys and an adult that still knows all of the lyrics to every song, I'm jazzed by the prospect of a musical featuring their lyrics. How Shakespeare fits into all of this...
Okay. Having now read the article, this is less about the Backstreet Boys than the title implied. However, I'm still enthusiastic about the chaotic, queer energy that pulsates through the description in the article. I'm typically not a fan of modern musicals, but I have a fondness for the jukebox musical and I appreciate any production that embraces camp. It sounds like & Juliet is a celebration of life and love and while it might not be high-brow, artistic theatre, there's still value in a good time. I like theatre that aims to entertain, which it sounds like this one does very well. If it's still running next time I visit Broadway, maybe I'll buy a ticket.
Before I sign off, however, I must raise my eyebrow at the implication that Romeo & Juliet was about Anne Hathaway. Shakespeare didn't originate the tale of R&J; the story has origins extending back to Ancient Greece. Shakespeare was inspired by a poem of a similar name. I don't mind the creative liberties the musical takes at all; I'm just unimpressed that the author of the article doesn't know their theatre history.
I can't believe that I've never heard of this musical before. I love the idea of taking a traditional story or a classic work and re telling it in a new and fun light. Six does something similar to me with the telling of the wives of Henry the 8th. It turned the story into something that was empowering and feminine and just overall really fun. I especially love when people apply this concept to any of Shakespeare works. And bonus points for working in genderqueer characters and non heteronormative relationships. The recreation of classic stories in this way is something that brings them into the world of today. It gives young audiences a reason to get interested in Shakespeare. and even better if it is through the lease of his wife and giving her her own voice. It can be especially fun to recreate Shakespeare in this way, because when you boil it all down and translate it, forty percent of Shakespeares is silly dirty humor anyway, and that can be so much more fun in a modern context.
As we know the entertainment industry works in trends. A a common trend right now is reimagining Shakespeare character’s specifically with Romeo and Juliet. Rosaline is a recent example and that one follows Romeos first love Rosaline and her side of the story. This play is another retelling but from Shakespeare’s wife Anna Hathaway. I’m interested to see how this play does because I think modern audiences have not been a fan of Shakespeare in a while but they have been a fan of pop musicals rooted in history Hamilton, Six. I am really excited to see the queer love story and hope they do that justice. I am also excited to hear the music from this show because it sound like something that I would enjoy. Also looking at the costumes I am really intrigued because they look like if you took the classic vibe of Romeo an Juliet but the entire cast is going to hip hop class right after
& Juliet is such a funny concept to me. I’ve only seen a little bit from the shows time in the West End, Suela, some additional promotional material that popped up on my phone. And the concept however, I think it’s really fun and allows us to revisit the story of Romeo and Juliet, without having that tragic ending, so famous. One of the things I didn’t know, but really enjoyed learning through this article was the continued hints to Shakespearean styles. Talking about the quadratic love story for instance. Overall, overall, the story seems fun. I am a little disappointed. There doesn’t seem to be too much depth to the story, that I can see anyway, I’m hoping it has a little bit more depth in its entirety, that this article simply wasn’t able to capture. However, I also am aware that sometimes there’s a place for a show that is simply fun. I’m also personally naughty the biggest fan of jukebox musical’s. I will admit they are fun, but I personally find that those songs are more distracting than anything else.
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