I was more mixed than outright negative when I saw it pre-Broadway. I actually thought the songs worked a lot better than I expected but I agree that the book was extremely weak and talked down to the audience.
God bless but I feel like you took this WAY more seriously than its meant to be taken. It wears its subversion and tacked on themes very readily on its sleeve. But to each their own.
Hello, I think you might find this quote from the New York Times review of interest: "I have done everything a critic can do to stamp out the jukebox musical. I’ve called it a cockroach, a straitjacket, a leech, a dead fish. I’ve argued that, with few exceptions, it’s a form that’s satisfactory neither as music nor as theater, let alone the combination. I’ve stood proudly, even among my colleagues, as a denier of everything that shows like “& Juliet” typically stand for. So shoot me: I liked it. It felt so wrong; it felt so right." - - - Jesse Green
As one theater lover to another, there is something very satisfying about hearing a knowledgeable theater goer let it rip about a show they truly hated. I admire (and often agree with) your strong opinions.
Thank you for sharing this, I saw the show in Sydney last night and I was beyond frustrated with the complete lack of coherence. Female empowerment is great, but this whole two hours was entirely about empowering Juliet... and to do what? We heard about nothing but her for the entire show, then at the end, she's free to make her own decisions (as if she hadn't been free the whole time, running to Paris and all), but we have no idea what she is going to do! If she had an ambition, or passion, or even a lover she was withheld from, then 'Roar', might have been vaguely impactful. I wanted to like this show, but it was utter trash, I think you really pinned down the main reasons.
Romeo & Juliet was better served with an alternate ending in "Is it a Crime?" in "Bells Are Ringing" where using "Veronaphone", the Judy Holliday character gets Friar Tuck's message through, indicating that had they had message services back then, "Those two kids would be alive today!" No Wokey Will needed.
I read Jesse Green’s review and was gobsmacked. He hates jukebox musicals! I appreciate your opinion and your thoughts about the cast. The soundtrack was meh.
It has become fashionable to “reimagine” classics by writers and directors dropping their knickers to piss on classics. I’ve seen this two or three times now. I’m guessing it’s infinitely easier to mock than to create. It’s a new world order.
Oh! That exasperated >SIGH< at around :30 before "I'll be straight with you..." Set the tone in the very best way!
I was more mixed than outright negative when I saw it pre-Broadway. I actually thought the songs worked a lot better than I expected but I agree that the book was extremely weak and talked down to the audience.
God bless but I feel like you took this WAY more seriously than its meant to be taken. It wears its subversion and tacked on themes very readily on its sleeve. But to each their own.
Hello, I think you might find this quote from the New York Times review of interest: "I have done everything a critic can do to stamp out the jukebox musical. I’ve called it a cockroach, a straitjacket, a leech, a dead fish. I’ve argued that, with few exceptions, it’s a form that’s satisfactory neither as music nor as theater, let alone the combination. I’ve stood proudly, even among my colleagues, as a denier of everything that shows like “& Juliet” typically stand for.
So shoot me: I liked it. It felt so wrong; it felt so right." - - - Jesse Green
As one theater lover to another, there is something very satisfying about hearing a knowledgeable theater goer let it rip about a show they truly hated.
I admire (and often agree with) your strong opinions.
Thank you for sharing this, I saw the show in Sydney last night and I was beyond frustrated with the complete lack of coherence. Female empowerment is great, but this whole two hours was entirely about empowering Juliet... and to do what? We heard about nothing but her for the entire show, then at the end, she's free to make her own decisions (as if she hadn't been free the whole time, running to Paris and all), but we have no idea what she is going to do! If she had an ambition, or passion, or even a lover she was withheld from, then 'Roar', might have been vaguely impactful. I wanted to like this show, but it was utter trash, I think you really pinned down the main reasons.
Romeo & Juliet was better served with an alternate ending in "Is it a Crime?" in "Bells Are Ringing" where using "Veronaphone", the Judy Holliday character gets Friar Tuck's message through, indicating that had they had message services back then, "Those two kids would be alive today!" No Wokey Will needed.
Thank you for your honest review.
I appreciate the ferocity of your commitment to this review!
I think you want to like every show you see, which makes this pan even more impactful.
You are not wrong there. Thank you.
@@onemansopinion8135 On the other hand, if I had a time machine, I'd take you with me back to 1983 so we could see Moose Murders.
I read Jesse Green’s review and was gobsmacked. He hates jukebox musicals! I appreciate your opinion and your thoughts about the cast. The soundtrack was meh.
I saw this 12/7 and I did enjoy the music, the dancing was okay, but it did go somewhat off the rails with the story lacking continuity.
It has become fashionable to “reimagine” classics by writers and directors dropping their knickers to piss on classics.
I’ve seen this two or three times now. I’m guessing it’s infinitely easier to mock than to create.
It’s a new world order.