I saw & JULIET 5 times - here's what I thought | west end closing review at the Shaftesbury Theatre 

As a queer 90s English teacher I feel like this show is made for me 😂 the only thing that bothers me when I see the play is Anne being upset that Shakespeare leaves her his 2nd best bed when during Shakespeare's time, the 2nd best bed was the marriage bed, so it was actually a romantic gesture.

This musical has been the perfect 'pick me up' show for anyone (especially the millennial generation) that needed it in these times where a change of the channel or a flick of a newspaper page plummets you right into the despair of the world today. I am absolutely gutted it's closing on the West End. It absolutely deserved a longer run. The love I have for Cassidy's 'That's The Way It Is' knows no bounds...

Thank you so much for pointing out the "I Wanna Go" interlude during "Blow". I never caught it before, and as a Britney fan I'm ashamed of myself but now I can't unhear it! Genius!

Finally someone agrees with me about how Romeo is treated! I’m happy that the show empowers Juliet, but did they need to drag Romeo down to do it? It’s like they wanted to make him “bad” but not so bad that Juliet can’t get back together with him at the end, so they just made out that he was awful for… having a love life before Juliet? I still love the show, though! My favourite character is May 💜

I just love this show so much and I can't wait for it to tour. Its made me fall in love with songs that I never thought I would. I first saw the show last May when I was dealing with a friendship break up and it was the biggest pick me up. Roar meant a lot to me before the show because it was in the charts when my dad passed, the shows given it a completely new meaning to me. It deserved to be in London longer.

As someone who only recently has fallen in love with the show since it coming to Broadway & only seeing it via boot so far (US Tour I'm SURE will be coming with in the next few years) the cast recordings haven't left my brain since the first listen. These are songs that came out when I was in High School & I saw Britney, N*SYNC, & Backstreet Boys on tour during the height of popularity so it hits HARD. So much so in fact that I enjoy some of the &Juliet versions more so than the originals. Top it off with a new Jessie J track (someone who is known to tear at my emotions & make me cry) & a great aesthetic of vintage mixed with modern it has so much that I love.

I absolutely agree that Romeo is treated worse than his actions and words warrant, that confused me a bit when seeing the show. The only real 'douche' moment I can think of (and granted, it's a decently big one) is when he tells Juliet that he forgives her for not killing herself after he did - as if she owed him her suicide. That one was a yikes, but that's kind of all I can think of.

i misjudged this show, the promotions/performances available online never convinced me however i found cheap tickets for last december, taking my brother, and we both adored it! i saw it again last week, and loved it even more, and i can not believe how badly i had judged the show, so i do wonder if others have taken a similar impression!

I saw it for the first time last night !! the audience energy was insane

Totally agree with the Romeo point! Kinda felt like it was trying to pull a Six (this man took the best years of my life but I don’t need him etc) without the actual bad/abusive behaviour. But it was still an enjoyable and fun few hours!

I will after closing night have seen the show 5 times as well and it is a show that is so special to me as I have so many good memories associated with the show, I’ve managed to see 3 Juliets (Miriam, Grace and Bessy) who were insane, it has one of the best casts in the West End. My best memory is probably seeing it for the first time in November 2021 in the middle of the front row with Grace as Juliet and then seeing Miriam for the first time about a year later. I am excited for Saturday night but know I will be a mess by the end. I have loved noticing new things every time in the set which is really cool (and oh my god I didn’t realise that about the iambic pentameter that is amazing). It is such an underrated show and I can’t wait to see it on tour.

I'm calling it now Hadestown is moving into the shaftesbury

As an Old Enby (41 this year 💀) I feel weirdly conflicted about the character of May. On the one hand, it’s incredibly heartening to know that a character like me gets a voice, a romance, and a happy ending, *especially* since “non-binary” wasn’t even an option for many of us to consider until about ten years ago. On the other hand… it feels *very* strange hearing that the show never acknowledges that the character and their relationship is in fact queer.

I was lucky enough to work for this show for most of last summer during its pre-Broadway run in Toronto (Canada) and I have to say it’s one of the shows I’ve enjoyed working the most over the last few years. Just so much fun and overwhelmingly great audience feedback (except for the occasional Karens complaining about the queer content in the show). I hope it has a great run on Broadway and sweeps the Tonys this year! Also if you get a chance to see it in NY I’d LOVE for you to review it and point out the differences between both productions.

Can't believe I've seen it more times than you. 3 in Manchester and 3 in London Post lockdown. I still remember the 2nd time I saw it, they'd just released the cast album and I told my friend who was with me that in the opening number, Oliver Tompsett sounds identical live to the cast recording. At the interval she said I wasn't kidding. His voice is phenomenal, he nails it every time. Very lucky to have seen him 6 times in this role, I've been spoilt. Cassidy Janson is incredible at landing the comedy and leaving you heartbroken all in one show. I don't think I've ever come out from watching the show feeling anything other than euphoric. Can't wait to see it on tour and drag everyone I know to see it. With out doubt my favourite musical because not only are the songs brilliant, but placing them within the context of the story helps you hear the lyrics in a new way. Also the book is so clever. So many moments you think are genius and every time you see it you pick up more. It has an intelligence you don't expect from a jukebox musical and sets the bar high for any others coming along

I know you didnt get to see her but just wanted to shout out to Collette Guitart who understudied for Anne, playing it differently to Cassidy (who was amazing) but really beautifully with incredible vocals! Look out for her in the future I think. I agree with so much of this review, thank you 💜

I originally got tickets for my birthday in Feb 2020 (this obviously never happened because of the panny d) and finally saw it in January of this year. I LOVED it so much, and wish I had been able to see it earlier and more! It’s just such a fun filled show, with real heart and soul. Amazing.

Saw the Melbourne Australia version last night. Such a fun night out. The Romeo reveal at the end of Act 1 was so great!

Only recently discovered the show went to see it for the first time back in January and instantly feel in love with it. I went back last week for one final visit before it closures (this is only one of a handful of shows I have made a return visit too which sums up the show for me) and I still in love with it. Its a great story, its brilliant and clever how the songs fit well into the story. Oliver is fantastic as Shakespeare, first visit I saw Collette Guitart as Anne (who was great) but 2nd visit I had Cassidy who knocked it out the park (I 100% agree its Anne show). Both visits I had Zara on as Juliet who was brilliant. I agree with your thoughts about the show as I wasn't sure about it before I went to see it (i am a 90s kid and I can confirm it is definitely my jam, I had the soundtrack on repeat since I been). I also want that jacket too. So sad its closing (far too soon) but so happy I was able to discover and fall in love with the show. Will 100% be making return visits when it goes on tour next year.

Seeing it on Friday, even more excited now

Seen it three times, going to miss it so much. No other show in the West end right now makes you feel that happy

I love these videos! Just a suggestion for future reviews, I find your reviews on each actors performance really interesting but afraid I don’t know them all by name so maybe you could put a picture of them in character on the screen when talking about them so I can recognise who is who, and which I’ve seen!

Been a fan of the show since it opened, was lucky enough to finally get tickets to see it last month, absolutely heartbroken its closing but looking forward to the UK tour at least!

I saw it in Melbourne a couple of weeks ago and I loved it!

I’ll be honest, as a queer person who loves Shakespeare, I don’t mind that queerness isn’t explicitly given modern language in the show. Part of that A. leaves roles open for people who might not feel comfortable identifying with or being perceived as a *precise* label in the text, B. Is representative of how many characters in Shakespeare don’t have a defined gender precisely, even if they have masc/fem pronouns (Puck, Viola/Cesario)and C. Doesn’t sort of further position the character Shakespeare against the community than the show sort of implies by making the idea Hathaway’s, when Shakespeare himself might have been queer. Point A being the most important here. Point C is just sort of a bad faith interpretation that doesn’t really matter.

I saw it in May the first day I got to London & got rush tickets like 2hrs after rush opened. It's just opened in Melbourne Australia & apparently won't be coming to Sydney for couple years due to Sydney venues being booked so I'll be flying to Melbourne to see it & Cursed Child as that is closing July too.

Watched this in Melbourne. I didn’t expect much from jukebox musicals but this one is fantastic! The storyline is unexpected and the cast is amazing. I even saw some audience crying.

I saw the show in Toronto last summer before it moved to Broadway, and the book was one of the best things about it. I thought it was so cleverly written, had such wit, and that it was both very funny and smart. I'm curious to hear your take on "Some like it hot" as I believe that these two shows could and should get a best book nomination. The ensemble was beyond generous and highlighted the great choreography, the show's next strength, in my own opinion.

I’ve seen it twice and have an incredible amount of love for it ❤ my 1 gripe is I wish Juliet didn’t get back with Romeo, she was so independent and then just sort of when back to him, I wish she kept that independence and stood on her own. Still am obsessed with the show and will miss it in the west end :(

my favourite memory of & juliet was seeing grace mouat’s juliet debut… that was so, so special.

Tom Francis was Romeo when I went to see it and I fell in love! 🤣💖

Saw this show for the first time last summer and unfortunately didn’t manage to make it back before it closed! I fell in love with the cast when I saw it, one of those shows that I can’t imagine with different performers, but still can’t wait to see it again when it tours. Edit: Cassidy Janson was also my Anne and I love her

Interesting. One of the only times I've stood for a performance WAS for an intense piece, and I remain incredibly glad that I did it, because it was a moving and thrilling production -- and I never particularly noticed that I was standing because it was so engrossing. (Though to be fair, _Assassins_ isn't an especially long show.)

Thank you darling boy. 😊❤

So happy to know that & Juliet is doing a UK cohesion though.

I recently watched the & Juliet Perth show and I wish to watch it again but I can’t seem to afford it.

So sad that is has too close. Going to it on Thursday 23rd.

Hi MickeyJOTheatre, I recently watched your insightful review of the musical '& Juliet' on RU-vid and found it fascinating. As I'm currently in job search mode and not employed full-time, I was curious if you might know of any avenues where I could watch the musical for free or at a reduced cost? Your expertise and recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with your viewers!

It is so funny to me that they use “I’m Not a Girl” as a song for May because I’ve made EXACTLY that same analogy when explaining being nonbinary to people

Are they going to do a tour?

This soundtrack has my favourite version of many of these pop songs ! Highly recommend if anyone wants a running playlist

Went to see it this year in January Collette as Anne was amazing (know her from Six) It was really fun Also remember being slightly disappointed when Romeo shows up (dont hate me 😆) May's song I'm not that girl made me cry 🥲

Beyond just iambic pentameter, right before I Kissed a Girl, May and Frankie's conversation is actually a sonnet!

I loved this show, so much of high school and college in the songs selected. I figure the Romeo as a douche was indicated by the number of previous girlfriends. By the Broadway run, it seemed like May was better fleshed out, and excellently portrayed.

Loved the original cast ❤

I saw this one on broadway, I thought it was...good. Maybe it's because it was the 6th musical I'd seen that week and I was tired. I thought the actors, set and choreography were amazing. The story felt a little forced and I would have liked to hear more Bon Jovi. I feel like I had a better time at Bad Cinderella even with everything that was wrong with that show which again supports the fatigue factor I had when seeing this show. It's unique and fun, but not my favorite. To each their own.

Everyone know wants the romeo jacket…. They would have made a bundle if they sold them as merch

Looking at the things that were said could be done better I would like to add my take on why it is like that. First of all the writing of May. I adore May and love the representation that comes with their and Francois relationship. I would say (at least in the latest production with Joe and Billy, the one I saw) they do kinda acknowledge the fact that it is a queer relationship with the line “you do know I’m not a girl right” “I know, doesn’t matter to me I just like kissing you” during “I kissed a girl”. I feel like it both acknowledge the fact that Francois is queer without smacking a label on what type he is and also acknowledges that dating May won’t be looked upon as dating a woman because they aren’t. Joe Foster the current May has talked about May’s gender journey saying something like “We meet May at the very start of their journey… gender is so fluid… who knows if May in the future turns out trans” and that they like the open writing of May’s gender because gender is so forever changing you can’t just tie a character down to one path when the play only represents like a week of their life. I think this is why they makes it clear that May is fluid on the gender spectrum but don’t specifically label them as anything. That’s my take on what Joe was saying at least hehe. Also. Romeo being labeled as a stupid, douche, and “bad guy” doesn’t necessarily come from him during what we see in the show but him before he came back from the dead. Possibly like referring to the fact that he cheated on Juliet with soooo many people while marrying her. I mean that’s a very idiotic thing to do, and that is what builds this hate for Romeo. Then we rather grow to love him seeing him reflect on his past:) again, my take. Love this musical so so much💖

My only complaint about & Juliet is that I was only able to see it once while it was in Toronto.

I can see Melanie getting Tony nominated this season!

Hi idilll

I'm here after watching your "In Dreams" review and wanting to know more about your thoughts on "& Juliet". What I find strange is that I agree with everything you said but drew quite a different conclusion. I LOVED the staging, costumes, music, dancing (not so much the choreography...but the execution of it and the energy it exuded). I agree about which songs were total highlights and how exciting it was every time a nostalgic hit was introduced. But I found the story so tedious and annoying and problematic and most of the jokes didn't land...I didn't enjoy the overall result. To be fair, I was excited for how the story set itself up at the start. I just didn't feel it followed through with what it promised. The story we ended up with didn't feel feminist at all, everything felt too low stakes to care about, and then we ended in very nearly the exact same place as we began. Not enough personal growth on display for my taste. I also came away with the impression this show belonged to Anne Hathaway. But she could have had so much more to do! The fact that she and Will both put themselves in the story...then have literally no plot within it...made no sense to me. I think Anne should have put herself in as the Nurse so she got to experience some romantic thrills, and Will should have put himself in as one of her love interests. I'd like to see them in a love triangle so he has to work hard to prove his love for her. And I would have liked her to decide it was too little too late. I also feel very weird about May singing "...not a girl, not YET a woman..." If they are non-binary then they never will be a woman. I was mostly confused by that choice but it could be seen as offensive. Utimately, I concluded this was another unnecessary jukebox musical that doesn't understand the THEATRE part of MUSICAL THEATRE. As fun as the musical side of things is, there is no reason this shouldn't just be a tribute concert.

Omg I forgot that William Shakespeare’s wife’s name was actually Anne Hathaway so I got super confused lol

I just feel like the transition to Problem just didn’t work. The switch from One More Try to it gave me whiplash.

I saw the broadway production twice omg I loved it and I can’t wait to see it again and again lol

but looking forward to Miss Doubtfire

Took my friend (who’s not into musicals) and my 12 yr old sister - completely blew our socks off. My sister walked out saying it’s now her favourite 🥰

The biggest problem I have with &Juliet is the way it pushes down men to lift up women.

I agree with you about Romeo but I guess it's making a point that people who are thoughtless can cause as much hurt sometimes as people who are heartless even though they don't mean it although the difference is there's a much greater will to do the work on themselves if encouraged and challenged. I also read those part that paint him like that as Anne's projection that Juliet is a projection of her who she's living through and Romeo is Will's and she projects some of her issues with Will onto Romeo - I've seen people on fandom boards do that to a much more toxic extent not just with characters who do things that are triggering but once to an actor who played such a character. I guess that's a very meta read but I do think it's there if you want to interpret it that way and & Juliet's book is a story about stories.

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Bring& juliet to a national tour

It's my life stole the show for me

& Juliet definitely isn't my favourite show but I appreciate the love it has received. The writing was a bit weak for me, with moments happening simply because they needed to get from Max Martin Song A to Song B, but I will champion it for its non-binary/trans representation (i'm still not exactly sure what May is meant to be) and the set and costume design is inspired. Overall probably more so a 3 star show for me, but again I understand why young fans particularly love this show.

i havent seen this show, however ive seen some performances online and had a listen into the soundtrack, i must say its really not my cup of tea. i think its a bit trashy tbh and not in a good way

I love this show SO MUCH. It's so important to me, but my main problem with it is that the feminist kind of angle is sort of lost at the end. For example, I thought the main point was Juliet was her own character and didn't need Romeo (or a man generally). But the two getting back together at the end just sort of ruins it, and the independence that we see Juliet gain from not being with Romeo is lost as she then gets back with him?? That's like the only problem I have with it tho and I can very easily ignore it.

I'm probably gonna get hate for saying this but May worked better as a guy character, i'm all for Non-Binary representation but there's very few Feminine men characters represented on stage so when you completely change the character to be Non-Binary it's almost saying that Fem Men matter less then Non-Binary people, it would have been better to keep May a guy.