Basking in the glow of a vibrant neon sign, Broadway Across Canada’s whimsical & Juliet playfully rewrites William Shakespeare’s tragic tale, tossing aside the gloomy finale and putting young Juliet (Fabiola Caraballo Quijada) front and centre to dance to the beat of her own drum — much to the humorous dismay of her creator, William Shakespeare (CJ Eldred).
When Shakespeare’s unsung wife, Anne Hathaway (Crystal Kellogg), snatches the quill on opening night, the tragedy gets a fabulous makeover. Instead of letting Juliet pine away for Romeo, Anne whisks her off on a high-spirited Parisian road trip to reclaim her destiny, kick-starting a jukebox-fueled journey of self-discovery.
This high-energy romp promises an empowering second act for Shakespeare's famous heroine, serving up a cheeky modern twist packed with lively new sidekicks: Juliet’s confidante May (Nico Ochoa), the charming Francois De Bois (Josh Fermin) and her hilarious nurse, Angelique (K Allison).
Yet for all its glittering spectacle and powerhouse vocals, the party occasionally hits a speed bump, with a slightly clunky narrative and pop tracks that sometimes feel shoehorned into the fun rather than blossoming naturally from the scene.
When it comes to visual sparkle, the show unequivocally dazzles. The set design cooks up a dreamy potion of Renaissance romance and neon-soaked party vibes, perfectly matched by costumes that cheekily mix classic corsets and ruffles with sleek, contemporary street style. The cast bursts with infectious energy and powerhouse belt-it-out vocals — with Quijada soaring effortlessly through every high note. Stepping into the spotlight was the Francois de Bois understudy, Fermin, who was an absolute delight as Francois. He balanced May and Juliet’s hearts with charming awkwardness, serving up grounded warmth and rich vocal flair that stole every scene.
The romance between Francois and May unfolds with tender, heartwarming grace, highlighted by Ochoa’s effortlessly subtle performance as May. Their poignant, solitary rendition of Britney Spear’s “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman” deeply resonates, while the gentle interaction shared by Francois and his onstage father (Paul-Jordan Jansen) captures pure emotional warmth.
Quijada’s version of Juliet commands the stage, pouring infectious enthusiasm into a brilliantly placed rendition of “Oops!... I Did It Again” before delivering a delightfully sassy, high-octane performance of “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson.
Even so, the glitter loses a little lustre under the weight of a paper-thin plot. Despite bearing the title "& Juliet," the titular heroine frequently finds herself pushed into the background of her own sparkling journey, as her arc competes for space alongside Hathaway’s personal drama.
David West Read’s script relies heavily on broad gag humour and breezy dialogue, trading genuine cleverness for quick sitcom-style chuckles. What begins as a captivating meta-theatrical tug-of-war over artistic control between Will and Anne eventually settles into repetitive banter, leaving the audience wishing for a bold, decisive twist rather than the convenient reconciliation offered at the final bow.
Instead of delivering a sharp, witty critique of the original tragedy, the storyline often feels like a playful scaffolding built simply to dash from one pop anthem to the next.
This structural lightness extends to the musical integration itself. While Max Martin’s legendary '90s and 2000s hit list delivers maximum nostalgia, the song choices occasionally feel squeezed into the action. Instead of bursting forth organically from emotional highs, a few numbers interrupt the story’s momentum just as it gets rolling.
Characters suddenly launch into explosive pop numbers that feel delightfully fun yet somewhat disconnected from the scene, momentarily transforming the narrative musical into a glorious, stadium-style concert interlude.
Broadway Across Canada’s & Juliet is a dazzling celebration of scenic wonder, eye-popping fashion and electric performances. Even if the storyline and song placement hold it back from perfection, the show’s sheer joy and irrepressible spirit make it a night out worth dancing for.
