JULIET & THE ROMEOS

Don’t expect any soppy sentimentality from this hugely entertaining and amusing show that focuses on Valentine’s Day! – Review by Caroline Smart

For their latest production, Juliet and The Romeos, the Catalina Theatre is transformed into a romantic bower with white balustrades, arches and trailing roses. Themi Venturas’ design skilfully sets the popular Solid Gold Band at the back of the stage without hiding them so you can enjoy the performances of this inter-active foursome. Led by Music Director Shem Mahabeer on keyboards and for many years the resident band at the Upper Deck Restaurant at uShaka Marine World, Solid Gold comprises Dane Francis on guitar, Llewellyn Chetty on bass and Dillan Kanny on drums.

Devised and directed by Charon Williams-Ros, this is a hugely entertaining and amusing show focusing on Valentine’s Day but don’t expect any soppy sentimental situations here. It’s a sassy, spunky, energetic and very amusing look at the relationships of one Juliet Cupido, played with flair and flamboyance by Daisy Spencer who is also responsible for the choreography.

Now, our Juliet feels trapped by her name and can’t figure out why she had to be saddled with the name of a Shakespearean heroine who died for love. Conversely, Juliet is full of life and actively looking for Mr Right. Enter three very personable young men – Rory Booth, Lyle Buxton and Grant Jacobs (aka The Romeos). Individually and collectively, they create the love interests who form Juliet’s journey to the man of her dreams.

There are some delicious characters along the way as Juliet makes her choices – some good, some hectic! - but it is probably Rory Booth’s camp hairdresser and his woman in the bus who take the honours! Also, you haven’t lived until you’ve seen Grant Jacobs and Lyle Buxton as butterflies, complete with ostrich feather fans!

Written by Charon Williams-Ros with input by Rory Booth and Daisy Spencer, (I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall during those creative sessions!), the show is also full of Newlands/Wentworth/Sydenham lingo, a fascinating and rich language entirely of its own! Someone needs to capture these phrases and descriptions in a dictionary before they die out, as new generations get influenced by bland upward-inflection American sitcom-speak!

The song list incorporates Michael Jackson, John Legend, Lionel Ritchie, Michael Bublé, Bruno Mars, Whitney Houston, the Cornelius Brothers, Smokey Robinson, the Ting-tings and many others. Titles are well-chosen to fit the scenes, ranging from the opening number, You Better Shop Around, to You Are my Destiny and Would I Lie to You?. There’s an amusing Love is in the Air from Grant Jacobs; a smooth I'm Your Man from Lyle Buxton and a romantic Just the Way You Are from Rory Booth. All three are hilarious in Because I got High and Twentysomething was a highlight as was Daisy Spencer’s That's Not my Name.

The only adverse comments I have is that the arrangement of the closing number to the first act didn't seem to work musically and the finale needs reworking. While a clear-cut ending is effective, this one doesn’t give the audience enough opportunity to express their appreciation.

Good to see Rosemary Schumann bringing her expertise to the lighting design and the sound (apart from a few “sort-outable” glitches tonight) was in the capable hands of Eugene Mahabeer.

Juliet & Her Romeos runs until February 27 at Catalina Theatre, Wilson's Wharf. Performances Thursday to Saturday at 20h00 with an early show on Saturdays at 17h00 (Sundays 14h00 and 18h00) Tickets R90 (R70 student/pensioner and matinee). Bookings on 031 305 6889 or visit http://www.facebook.com/l/c2338;www.strictlytickets.com – Caroline Smart