While leaving London’s West End in 2023, & Juliet has shown no signs of slowing down as it continues to take Broadway by storm and has current productions including a UK tour, an Australian production, and most recently a German version premiering in the country’s theatrical capital, Hamburg. And I had the very fortunate opportunity to return to the city this weekend to see the show.
As someone who saw & Juliet ten times in London, does & Julia roar louder than a lion, or was it nothing but a mistake bringing it to Germany? And yes, for all intents and purposes, in this review I’ll be be calling the Hamburg production & Julia.
I was gifted a press ticket in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
& Julia
Cast
- Julia: Chiara Fuhrmann
- Shakespeare: Andres Bongard
- Anne Hathaway: Willemijn Verkaik
- Romeo: Raphael Groß
- Angelique: Jacqueline Braun
- May: Bram Tahamata
- Francois: Oliver Edward
- Lance: Carlos de Vries
Rating: ★★★★★
What is & Julia about?
On the day William Shakespeare debuts his brand new play Romeo & Juliet, the ending where two starcrossed lovers die gets a less than stellar reaction from his wife Anne Hathaway. As it’s her one day off from looking after their daughters in Stratford Upon-Avon, Anne persuades William to write a new story answering this question: What if Juliet didn’t kill herself? From there, Juliet’s story takes her from fair Verona to the city of love, Paris with Anne, best friend May and her nurse Angelique. During Juliet’s journey of self-discovery, Anne and William butt heads over the direction of the play which lead to twist and turns including a surprising love triangle and the arrival of a not-quite-dead Romeo.
Oh, and there are pop hits including …Baby One More Time, I Want It That Way, Blow and I Kissed A Girl.
What are my thoughts on the German production?
I loved & Juliet when it was in London, and all my thoughts also apply to & Julia. Regardless of language barriers, it’s still the same fun, high energy and sugary sweet musical filled with plenty of heart – and bucket loads of glitter! While implementing changes made for the Broadway production that tighten David West Read’s script, what hasn’t changed is its sincere messages surrounding feminism (something very much needed now), finding your self confidence, and friendship while fully embracing the silliness as it pokes fun at Shakespeare and its nature as a jukebox musical.
What always strikes me in & Julia is the genius of recontextualising Max Martin’s catalogue, beautifully rearranged by Bill Sherman, including turning…Baby One More Time into a heartbreaking survival ballad or the bombastic It’s My Life turning into an epic act one closer. In terms of & Julia, one pleasant surprise was the songs either being entirely in English or starting in German before smoothly moving into English. Rather than being a distraction, they highlight the transcendence of Martin’s music because the audience went absolutely wild.
What’s the cast like?
What I was most excited to see in & Julia was an entirely new cast offer fresh takes on their roles. In fact, some may even be my favourite interpretations yet. Chiara Fuhrmann’s Julia perfectly captures her youthful impulsiveness and vulnerability during her journey of self discovery while possessing a powerhouse voice. She really is a rising star to watch out for having previously covered Elphaba and Anna in the German productions of Wicked and Frozen.
Raphael Groß nails ladies man Romeo’s ultra-romantic yet dimwitted nature as soon as he appears onstage and makes for some of the show’s most hilarious scenes. Carlos de Vries is delightfully macho as Lance showboating in his codpiece while Jacqueline Braun makes for some of the most heartfelt moments as Juliet’s nurse and mother figure Angelique, including a standout rendition of Fucking Perfect that made you believe every word she said.
Oliver Edward makes Francois’ inner conflict of doing what’s right for himself vs. his family feel so relateable and authentic while having a sweet romance with Bram Tahamata’s May. Tahamata brings a freshness and vulernability to May and a beautiful rendition of I’m Not A Girl Not Yet A Woman that makes you root for them to be happy.
Andreas Bongard offers a boy band member edge to Shakespeare both vocally and in the comedy department as he butts heads with his wife Anne over the story’s direction. And yes, let’s talk about the one person who’s become a pattern in my foray into German language musicals: Willemijn Verkaik. Her Anne Hathaway is perfection. Starting off as excited to finally let her hair down that showcases Verkaik’s surprising comedy chops, it’s in act two where her emotional range truly shines. When reveals a personal tragedy in act two, it breaks your heart into pieces as she brings the house down with her rendition of That’s The Way It Is.
What are my overall thoughts?
Capable of transcending language barriers, & Julia is the same sugary sweet, joyous and high energy show I adored in London featuring a phenomenal new cast in only what I can describe as the perfect jukebox musical. If you happen to be around Hamburg or are planning a trip there in the near, I urge you to see & Julia as soon as possible – if not just to see a foreign audience go wild for De Bois Band identically to London.
Leave a Reply