REVIEW: 21st Century Twists Complete & Juliet (Orpheum/Hennepin Arts)

Corey Mach and the company of the North American Tour of & JULIE. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

& Juliet uses the play within a play concept to provide Shakespeare’s classic Romeo & Juliet with an alternative ending. David West Read wrote the book for the show. Max Martin, a prolific song writer from the past 30 years, provided some original lyrics and music, but this jukebox musical uses many songs that he wrote/co-wrote which became famous pop hits by Brittany Spears, Katy Perry, Back Street Boys, etc. Director Luke Sheppard presents a hilarious production of music, dance and feminism.

Mateus Leite Cardoso as Francis/Frankie, one of the original characters added to the narrative, in the North American Tour of *& JULIET*. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

The show launches when Anne Hathway (Teal Wicks), the wife of Will Shakespeare (Corey Mach), barges into Will’s production of Romeo & Juliet, insisting that the double suicide ending is wrong. She doesn’t want Juliet to commit suicide and urges her husband to write a more feminist and independent Juliet. Although Shakespeare is resistant, Anne pushes the cast to do her version of the play and even writes herself into the show as one of Juliet’s best friends.

In the ensuing rewrite of the classic tale’s aftermath, Juliet survives her relationship with Romeo only to learn at his funeral that Romeo had several other lovers. With Anne’s prodding, Juliet refuses her parents command to get herself to a nunnery. Instead, Juliet travels 600 miles to Paris with Anne, her nurse/nanny Angelique (Kathryn Allison), and her non-binary friend May (Nick Drake). Soon, Angelique has a reunion with her former lover Lance (Paul-Jordan Jansen), who is hosting a ball to find a wife for his son Francis/Frankie. Frankie (Mateus Letite Cardoso) gets engaged to Juliet but falls in love with May. Will Shakespeare then spitefully decides to sabotage his wife’s rewrite by resurrecting Romeo (Daniel J. Maldonado), who again seeks to woo Juliet.

In a meta twist on the normal star-crossed lovers, William Shakespeare (Corey Mach, left) and Anne Hathaway (Teal Wicks, right) dance around alterations to the plot. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

Rachel Simone Webb shines as Juliet with powerhouse singing and dancing, demonstrated best in her rendition of “Roar.” Much of the humor comes from the banter between Wicks and Mach about the play’s direction. The reignited romance between Jansen and Allison is highlighted by the actors’ chemistry and provides a delightful subplot in Shakespearean fashion.

Jennifer Weber’s choreography and the musical supervisor Bill Sherman orchestration mesh well together during the songs. Howard Hudson’s lighting design is warmly reminiscent of the disco days of dancing.

Kathryn Allison as Angelique (Juliet’s nurse) in the North American Tour of *& JULIET*. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

& Juliet may not be a theatre classic like Romeo and Juliet. But the multitude of Martin’s pop songs, the feminist jokes and a wonderfully talented singing cast treats the audience to an amusing and delightful evening of fun.

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& Juliet played at the Orpheum Theatre from May 13 – 18, 2025.

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Bev Wolfe

Bev Wolfe is a Staff Reviewer at the Twin Cities Arts Reader. She is an attorney and avid theatre fan who has written theatre reviews for local publications since 2008. She was also an Ivey Awards evaluator.