& Juliet

A Glittery, Glorious Shake-Up of Shakespeare

“& Juliet” by PACA Productions

If you’re not familiar with “& Juliet”, just imagine the classic tale of “Romeo and Juliet” with a rewrite that focuses on Juliet, calls out the “icks” and satirises how 21^st century audiences engage with Shakespeare. It is witty and fun, rewiring the oft cited tale with glitter, pop anthems, and a whole lot of attitude. PACA Productions has delivered a show that’s bold, brilliant, and bursting with joy.

This is a jukebox musical; so not only are the characters pre-established, the songs are well known thereby creating a sense of pre-connection and expectation from the audience. Nevertheless, “& Juliet” is far from predictable and the audience responded enthusiastically and authentically to every surprise and twist. Co-directors Rodrigo Noël and William Pulley, along with associate musical director Ziv Pinco, have crafted an experience for the audience which is truly entertaining. The show is cheeky, clever, and self-aware in all the right ways. It’s a big undertaking, and this team has nailed the tone: fun, fearless, and full of heart.

Janina Hamerlok’s choreography is amazing! The dance numbers are packed with energy, precision, and personality. The cast’s commitment and energy radiates from the stage, allowing the audience to share in the celebratory vibe. It’s a Renaissance rave with pop concert energy—and it’s impossible not to get swept up in it.

Set designer Tony Odling and costume designer Erica Williams have created a world that’s part Elizabethan drama, part pop concert. The set is playful and ambitious, with surprises around every corner. The team have taken advantage of the facilities of the Riverside Theatre, making the most of all the staging tech modern musical theatre has to offer.

Jade Lee’s Juliet is mesmerising. Lee carries demanding vocals with seeming ease while simultaneously matching the dance energy of the ensemble and finding perfect comic timing in every scene. Ben James is charged with bringing Shakespeare to life and does so with wit and charisma, offering familiarity without leaning into stereotype. Marika Zorlu’s delivers a memorable performance as Anne Hathway, guiding the audience to adjust their view of Shakespeare, his works, and the narratives that we too often blindly accept. Zorlu is an established performer, known for her powerhouse vocals but, for me, it was the moments of tender emotion in both song and scene that struck most deeply.

Central to the show’s vaudeville-esque humour are the characters of Lance and Angelique. Lance is comedy gold and Brad Clarke plays him with heart and hilarious comic timing. Annette Vitetta as Angelique is a force – funny, sincere and owning the stage in every scene and song. Daniel Timmins brings quiet strength and sincerity to May, offering a beautiful contrast to the show’s chaos. Baxter Waller portrays the satirically pathetic Romeo with nuanced physical comedy and a commitment to the reinvention of the previously mislabelled “hero” of the tale. The character of Francois is one of my favourite additions to the tale, reminding the audience that the quest for identity and independence is a struggle more universal than just the “star-crossed lovers” and Ryan McLean delivers this with a balance of humour and heartbreak to evoke the audience’s empathy.

While the lead characters bear the recognisable names and offer the stirring solo numbers, this is a production carried by Shakespeare’s “players”. This is a big, bold cast, and the ensemble absolutely brings the house down. The dancing is intense, the energy infectious, and every performer brings something special.

It was such a joy to be in the audience of this production, but no show is perfect. So, if I was to dwell on weaknesses, I would flag a couple of tech issues. The lighting design is perfectly matched to the energy of the show but the propensity for the moving lights to be directed into the audience was a little overwhelming. I worry that there were priceless moments that I may have missed as my eyes had to readjust after each unexpected flash of light. Another worry that I have is in relation to the sound mix during the bigger numbers. “& Juliet” has a powerful ensemble and, during the full cast numbers, the solo lines were a little lost. It may be helpful to provide the leads with additional mic support to ensure that they are not tempted to over-sing unnecessarily – it’s a 19 show run and my theatre-mum brain is a little worried for them.

“& Juliet” is about joy, reinvention, and letting loose. PACA Productions has captured the heart of this musical and delivered it with sparkle, sass, and sincerity. If you’re looking for a night of laughter, glitter and bold storytelling, head to Riverside Theatre in Parramatta. Just be warned: you might leave singing, dancing, and re-evaluating everything you think you know about Shakespeare.

Photo: Grant Leslie

Closes Sunday 19 October

 Book your FINAL seats here: www.andjuliet.sydney