We’re all familiar with William Shakespeare’s world classic tragedy, “Romeo & Juliet,” where two young lovers end their lives when presented with devastating circumstances, but what would have happened if young Juliet kept writing her story?
That question gets answered in what may be my new favorite musical, “& Juliet,” which premiered its National Tour in Baltimore at the beautiful Hippodrome Theatre this week, launching the theatre’s 2024-2025 season. Except it’s not just Juliet writing her story, but William Shakespeare, played by Corey Mach, along with the help of his wife, Anne Hathaway, portrayed by the sensational Teal Wicks. This hilarious play within a play begins at Romeo’s grave before Juliet impales herself with Romeo’s dagger and flips the script on the story we all know.
Frankly, I was worried about walking into another jukebox musical, but the cast and creative parlayed familiar favorites into broadway showstoppers exceptionally well. The songs are easily recognizable and all fit in well with the script, like Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone” and P!nk’s “Fuckin’ Perfect.” Even Kesha’s “Blow” – which I definitely should have hated – blew my mind, with jaw-dropping choreography, impressive lighting, and songwriter Max Martin’s impressive arrangements. Martin’s exceptional score is complemented by David West Reed’s (Schitt’s Creek) witty book and brought to life by the amazing leads mentioned above, as well as Nick Drake, Kathryn Allison, Michael Canu, Mateus Leite Cardoso, Paul-Jordan Jansen, and more, creating one of my favorite productions to date.
& then there’s Juliet, played by the remarkable Rachel Webb Simone, who delivers a powerhouse performance while breathing new life into this character that stands the test of time. She’s relatable, vibrant, and embodies the complexities of Juliet in a way that feels both timeless and refreshingly modern. Get ready to fall in love with her, America, because she took this Baltimore stage by storm and soon she’ll be lighting up a theatre near you!
FinalGrade: A+
“& Juliet” runs at The Hippodrome in Baltimore through Sunday, September 28. For more information on the tour schedule, please visit https://www.andjuliet.org/juliet-national-tour/
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