The West End production of “&Juliet” tells you right away to expect a jukebox, as one is part of the set as the audience enters. There was some mix of new and old songs: I knew *some* of the older ones and almost none of the newer ones (the gaggle of young women who were seated near me bopped along to them, though). I knew more of the Shakespeare references, and William’s relationship with Anne Hathaway, his wife, who was 26 when she married him (he was 18), was nicely imagined. Juliet was sleek and both sang and danced well. Romeo was, for me, a cypher, plus he didn’t appear until almost the interval. The woman playing the nurse must have been new or stepping in. Her castmates cheered her and offered her a solo bow during curtain calls. Big pluses: got a cheap “day ticket” for a fifth row stalls seat and got to ride the new Elizabeth line train, which reminds me a lot of the nifty way you ride between the terminal and the gates at the Denver airport. Going back to my flat on a crowded bus presaged the transit strike happening on and off for the rest of this week. Dire warnings not to go anywhere you can’t walk today! Fortunately, I have lots of places to which I can walk in the neighborhood where I’m staying.
Bill Eadie |
