‘& JULIET’: Miriam Teak-Lee & cast. Photo: Johann Persson.

& JULIET
Book by David West Read
Music & lyrics by Max Martin & friends
Directed by Luke Sheppard
Shaftesbury Theatre
Shaftesbury Avenue

London, United Kingdom
(020 7379 5399), https://www.andjulietthemusical.co.uk/

By David NouNou

LONDON—Every year when StageZine goes to London for the summer theatre season, there is often one show we hope comes to Broadway. In 2019, the last time we were there, it was Six. This year our pick is & Juliet.

There is an infectious vitality to this musical that is off the charts. It has a great and actually funny irreverent book by David West Read and a catchy score from start to finish by Max Martin and friends. No spoiler alert here, but the score does include Britney Spears’ “Baby One More Time” and “Oops…I Did It Again,” Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl”  and “Roar” and more surprises. It is reminiscent of the 2015 musical Something Rotten by the Kirkpatrick Brothers.

I’m not saying that this is a perfect musical; it will need some tighter writing and directing before coming to New York. What is glorious about it is its exuberant young vitality and, with the proper changes, it should be a contender for next year’s “Best Musical” during awards season.

As Shakespeare wrote it, Romeo takes his poison and dies. Juliet awakens from her drugged coma and learns from Friar Laurence of what happened, then stabs herself to death. The end. Well, not in this version. Juliet (Miriam-Teak Lee) wakes up and figures things out for herself. Why should she kill herself? And it was selfish of Romeo to kill himself and not wait for her. She intends to live her life. Thus, the merriment unfolds.

Besides Juliet, there are the three other principal protagonists: William Shakespeare (Alex Tranter) and Anne Hathaway, not the actress but actually Shakespeare’s wife (Cassidy Janson). They manipulate how the story should continue now that Juliet is alive. Anne looks at things from the feminist point of view and wants Juliet to experience all the alternatives at her disposal, while William wants to keep the traditional manner in which he conceived it. The third principal is the ever-lovable Keala Settle as the Nurse. By the way, she will be leaving soon to play with Queen of British Soul Beverley Knight in a revival of the musical Sister Act. So, catch her before she leaves.

As the play progresses, different characters are introduced that alter Juliet’s life and if she should even remarry. Even Romeo (Tom Francis) resurfaces and makes another plea for Juliet’s hand in marriage. Decisions, decisions.

As I mentioned the premise is great, the score delightful, and the performances in most cases are very good, except for the over hamming by the few. Miriam Teak-Lee is lovely and a delight as Juliet. Alex Trantor is charming and gorgeous as Shakespeare; if only he really did look like Mr. Tranter. Ms. Janson as Anne is cloying at times. Ms. Settle is a delight.

This musical is further enhanced by its creative team. Set designer Soutra Gilmour has created an original, unorthodox, seamless cluttered but easy-on-the-eyes sets. The costumes by Paloma Young are deliciously colorful. Lighting Designer Howard Hudson captures every mood, night or day. Choreographer Jennifer Weber has injected so much energy and originality in her dances, it’s a shame that director Luke Sheppard doesn’t keep up with her. He needs help in editing the proceedings, but hopefully this will be worked out before any Broadway transfer.

There are so many surprises here and so much fun to be had. It is a must-see. Should it come to New York, here is my list for the perfect cast: Ariana DeBose as Juliet, Christian Borle as Shakespeare, Cassie Levy as Anne, Jeremy Jordan as Romeo and, of course, Keala Settle as The Nurse.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published July 10, 2022
Reviewed in London on June 14, 2022.

‘& JULIET’ at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London. Photo: StageZine.

‘& JULIET’: Tom Francis & cast. Photo: Johan Persson.

‘& JULIET’: (Center) Cassidy Janson, Miriam-Teak Lee, Keala Settle & cast. Photo: Johan Persson

‘& JULIET’: Oliver Tompsett, Miriam-Teak Lee & Keala Settle & cast. Photo: Johan Persson.

‘& JULIET’: Alex Thomas, Julius D’Silva, Tim Mahendran & Oliver Tompsett & cast. Photo: Johan Persson.

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‘WAITRESS’: (left to right) Keala Settle, Jessie Mueller & Kimiko Glenn. Photo: Joan Marcus

WAITRESS
Book by Jessie Nelson
Music & lyrics by Sara Bareilles
Based on the motion picture by Adrienne Shelly
Choreography by Lorin Latarro
Directed by Diane Paulus
Brooks Atkinson Theatre
256 West 47th Street
(877-250-2929), www.WaitressTheMusical.com

By David NouNou

Formulated with flour, baked with butter and sprinkled and seasoned with sugar are not only the ingredients of the pies that are baked in Waitress. They are also the ingredients of the show itself and showered all over with love.

Based on the 2007 movie of the same name, Waitress easily translates to the musical formula and is hugely influenced from a female perspective because its creators, book, score and direction, are all women. If you recall the 1970s sitcom “Alice” with Linda Lavin, and Mel’s Diner, it had a feminist point of view that was refreshing for its day. Waitress has updated that version and the notion women can ultimately have and do it all.

The indefatigable Jessie Mueller is Jenna, working in a diner in the American South. She is in a loveless marriage with her abusive husband Earl (Nick Cordero). Her gift is making the pies her mother taught her. In this diner, instead of the gruff and lovable cook Mel and the two besties: loudmouthed Flo and dimwitted Vera, we now have the gruff and lovable cook Cal (Eric Anderson). The besties are loudmouthed Becky (Keala Seattle) and naïve Dawn (Kimiko Glenn), both of whom are there to support Jenna during her destructive marriage and her unplanned pregnancy.

Also on hand is the handsome and married gynecologist, Dr. Pomatter (Drew Gehling), with whom Jenna has an affair during her pregnancy. The ever lovable showstopper Christopher Fitzgerald as Ogie, pursuing Dawn, and the curmudgeonly Joe, owner of the restaurant, are the characters who round out this talented cast.

The book by Jessie Nelson is serviceable; the score by Sara Bareilles is not very compelling considering the best song in the show is given to a secondary character, the showstopper for Ogie entitled “Never Ever Getting Rid of Me.” The rest are interchangeable ballads. Diane Paulus keeps things moving, thanks in large part to the brilliant scenic designer Scott Pask. Although in this case the sets are not much to look at, but their seamless transitions keep the musical afloat and his backdrop landscape vistas are breathtaking.

Jessie Mueller is quickly rising in the ranks as a top, bona fide Broadway star. Having won the Tony Award for Beautiful just two years ago, she will be up again for best actress for the coveted role of Jenna. She is the magical sugar, butter and flour that makes this musical rise.

Keala Settle, as bestie Becky, is a delight and believable; she was one of two characters that made the musical Hands on a Hardbody bearable. Kimiko Glenn as Dawn gives more of a caricature than a performance.

The men run the gamut from dreamy to abusive bully. Drew Gehling as the gynecologist is a total dream; he is one of the good guys. Nick Cordero, who was brilliant in Bullets Over Broadway, here comes across as a Southern psycho bully; one really expected hisses from the audience at curtain call. There is the wonderful character actor Dakin Matthews as the curmudgeonly Joe and he makes his presence felt in every scene. The best for last is Christopher Fitzgerald as Ogie; there isn’t a thing this wonderful musical comic can’t do.

If you’re in the mood for a scrumptious piece of pie, why not try the big helpings you’ll get at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre? They will surely satisfy anyone with a sweet tooth.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published April 27, 2016
Reviewed at press performance on April 26, 2016

‘WAITRESS’: Jessie Mueller. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘WAITRESS’: Nick Cordero & Jessie Mueller. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘WAITRESS’: Kimiko Glenn & Keala Settle. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘WAITRESS’: Nick Cordero & Jessie Mueller. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘WAITRESS’: Drew Gehling & Jessie Mueller. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘WAITRESS’: (Left to right) Ryan Vasquez, Charity Angél Dawson, Christopher Fitzgerald, Eric Anderson, Dakin Matthews & Molly Hager. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘WAITRESS’: Christopher Fitzgerald, Kimiko Glenn & Aisha Jackson. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘WAITRESS’: Kimiko Glenn & Christopher Fitzgerald. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘WAITRESS’: Dakin Matthews & Jessie Mueller. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘WAITRESS’: (left to right) Jeffrey Morse, Christopher Fitzgerald, Kimiko Glenn & Aisha Jackson. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘WAITRESS’: Drew Gehling & Jessie Mueller. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘WAITRESS’: Drew Gehling & Jessie Mueller. Photo: Joan Marcus

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