“O Romeo, O Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” may come to mind when looking at the title of the smash-hit musical '& Juliet'.
The jukebox musical, which features music and lyrics from Swedish hitmaker Max Martin and a witty script by 'Schitt’s Creek' writer, David West Read, stages a modern-day take on William Shakespeare’s beloved 'Romeo & Juliet', and explores what would happen if Shakespeare didn’t kill off his star-crossed lovers, all along to the tunes of some of the biggest hits of the last three decades.
“This is Juliet by Shakespeare, but totally brought into 2023,” Lorinda May Merrypor, who plays the titular character, says. “She gets to take agency over her story and create her own destiny. She is just so confident in who she is, and she truly has this optimism and positivity that she knows that there’s a destiny for her out there.”
“In Shakespeare’s version of 'Romeo & Juliet', she ends her life, but in our version, she knows she has some reason why she’s here and she’s searching for that. I find it really inspiring to play her and I’ve heard from a lot of audience members that she’s really inspired them too.”
Since opening in the West End in late 2019, '& Juliet' has swept audiences off their feet. The feel-good musical has since opened on Broadway and in Toronto, and the current Melbourne season marks only the fourth international production of the show. Scoring the highly coveted role of Juliet has been a “dream come true” for Merrypor, not only because of the scale of the production and getting to work alongside creatives like Max Martin and cast members Casey Donovan and Rob Mills, but also due to the production’s commitment to being as inclusive as possible. The cast of '& Juliet' is diverse in cultural, gender and LGBTQIA+ representation, which is a world away from when Shakespeare first staged 'Romeo & Juliet' where even women weren’t allowed on stage.
Image © Daniel Boud
“I’m working with people from all different walks of life. This is without a doubt the most diverse cast I’ve ever worked with in musical theatre in Australia and I don’t think that’s an exaggeration. I think that’s something that we have all bonded over. We all spoke during the rehearsal process about how we all want to represent our communities in the best light and with the most respect and we are all on the same path with that and I think that the show its heart.”
As a young Indigenous woman, Merrypor didn’t see young women like her represented on stage, and she hopes that '& Juliet' inspires other aspiring performers. “I was never totally sure that I’d get the opportunity to play the leading role in a big commercial project like this because it wasn’t something I ever saw growing up as an Indigenous woman.”
“I clinged to what representation I saw, like Jessica Mauboy and Casey Donovan on 'Australian Idol' or films like 'The Sapphires', but I personally wanted to be in musicals on stage and that representation wasn’t there growing up.
“So the fact that I have this opportunity now to be here on such a big-scale production, representing my community and to be able to show younger Aboriginal kids that this is possible, and something I didn’t have as a child, is both an honour and a sense of responsibility.”
Working with Donovan, who Merrypor admits she was a big fan of as a child, has also been a full-circle moment for the Rockhampton-raised performer. “When I first got cast, I had no idea who else was in the show. We had a big filming shoot day where we did our big cast announcement video and that was the first day we met each other, and I remember walking into the room and seeing Casey Donovan getting her make-up done and I was like 'no way! This is going to be incredible'. Casey is someone I’ve admired for a long time, and I was a big 'Australian Idol' watcher, so working with her and Rob (Mills) as well. . . I watched them on TV as a kid so working with them now is a real 'pinch me' moment.”
“It’s been an honour to have the opportunity to do this alongside someone like Casey. It’s special, and also her character in the show is like an Aunty to mine, and I think that works so well representing our community.”
Image © Daniel Boud
In addition to working alongside an all-star cast, Merrypor is also relishing in the chance to get to perform some of pop's biggest anthems including hits by Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, Jessie J and Demi Lovato. “Max Martin has been churning out hits for 30 years and still going. His songs are all so catchy. . . They’ve done so well [integrating the pop hits into the narrative in the show] and just the way the audience reacts when a song comes on, you know that It has been slotted into the show at the perfect moment.”
Merrypor is a self-confessed Ariana Grande fan and was caught off guard when the Swedish hitmaker said she reminded him of the 'Problem' singer when he visited the cast in Melbourne. “He’s like 'you really remind me of Ariana, your personality, and the way you talk and everything'. And I was like, 'well you would know'.” And while Grande’s tracks are included in the show, it’s the Britney Spears and Kelly Clarkson numbers that Merrypor relishes in performing the most.
“For me, 'Since U Been Gone' and 'Oops!... I Did It Again' both drop in at the perfect comedic moment. I also love the way that they’ve arranged '…Baby One More Time', because it’s so different to how you would know it. It’s the perfect moment for Juliet, and that’s the first time you meet her, singing [that song] and it gets the audience to root for her from the get-go which I think is really special.”
In addition to the chart-topping hits, Martin also co-wrote an additional song 'One More Try', which Merrypor performs alongside Blake Appelqvist’s Romeo. “It’s one of the most beautiful songs in the show. . . It gives me real 'Firework' by Katy Perry vibes. It’s aspirational, and Juliet is singing about how she wants one more try without ending her life, she’s trying again and not giving up which is very inspirational.”
“Juliet gets caught up in what other people around her need from her and her destiny with the stars, but when she finally listens to her heart and herself, she discovers that’s the key to having your dreams come true.
“That’s my favourite message that I hope people can take away from the show.”
'& Juliet' is now playing at Regent Theatre (Melbourne) until 29 July.
