Review: Broadway Across Canada's & Juliet a rip-roaring pop spectacle

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeEntertainmentLocal ArtsTheatre Review: Broadway Across Canada's & Juliet a rip-roaring pop spectacle The jukebox musical plays at the Jube until Sept. 27 Author of the article: By Liane Faulder Published Sep 23, 2026 4 minute read Join the conversation Fabiola Caraballo Quijada as Juliet in Broaway Across Canada's & Juliet. PHOTO BY EVAN ZIMMERMAN /MurphyMade Article content If you’ve ever wanted to be at the centre of a confetti cannon, get thee to the Jubilee. The Shakespeare-inspired musical & Juliet — on stage at the southside auditorium until Sept. 27 —offers so many feel-good tricks and tropes that it’s like being at your own wedding without the bother and expense. Article content Rooted in the rib-rumbling pop hits of Swedish songwriter and producer Max Martin, & Juliet speculates what would have happened to Juliet (played impressively by 19-year-old Fabiola Caraballo Quijada) if she decided not to kill herself after discovering Romeo had died. For many folks who secretly thought that was an overreaction, but didn’t want to say anything, & Juliet will come as a relief. After all, she was only 13, and he was her first boyfriend. Surely a handful of Nerds Gummy Clusters would have taken the edge off. Article content Article content Article content Indeed, the delightfully contrarian premise of & Juliet has proven popular. First opening in Manchester in 2019 and directed by Luke Sheppard, the musical won numerous awards after transferring to London’s West End. It was nominated for nine Tony awards for its 2022 Broadway production and has been touring the world ever since. Article content Headline News Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content The show opens with the celebratory tune Larger Than Life ringing through the theatre as Shakespeare (CJ Eldred) is set to debut the first production of Romeo and Juliet. His wife, the harried and housebound Anne Hathaway (Crystal Kellogg), has secured a babysitter for opening night, noting that she plans to have a large glass of wine and will try to stay awake. But when she sees what Shakespeare has in mind for the heroine of the story, Anne objects. Why should Juliet have to die? How bad could it be? Shakespeare,…