& Juliet, which opened last night at Birmingham Hippodrome, has one foot in Shakespeare's teenage tragedy and the other in Pop Paradise. The soundtrack is composed of massive hits by songwriter Max Martin, who is second only to Lennon and McCartney in their achieved number of US Number 1 Singles. Prepare to hear Since U Been Gone, I Kissed a Girl, I Want it That Way and many, many more, as you've never heard them before.

The play begins on the eve of the first ever production of Romeo and Juliet - don't be fooled by the neon sign and jukebox on stage. The man of the hour, William Shakespeare - played by the vocally and comedically pitch perfect Jay McGuiness - has prepared a heartbreaking tragedy of young lovers for his adoring fans. However his wife Anne (Lara Denning) is not impressed with Juliet's unhappy ending, and suggests that she could help her husband write a more upbeat play, in which Juliet (Gerardine Sacdalan) takes her fate into her own hands - with her best friend May (Jordan Broatch) and nurse, Angeliqué (Sandra Marvin) in tow.

The play is fun, frothy and absolutely does not take itself too seriously. The talented cast bounces with limitless energy, in costumes (designed by Paloma Young) that looked like they came from the ultimate dressing-up box - where doublets meet denim, in a riot of retro color and Shakespearean-Chic. Denning - who sings some seriously impressive solos - and McGuiness anchor the play as the resident sparring grown-ups. 

Celebrity doctor Ranj Singh takes a funny turn as Lance - in an ornamental cod piece and dubious (but hilarious) French accent. He’s the father of François (Kyle Cox), who is in turn trying to avoid being married off against his will. The core company is rounded out by Romeo, played last night by Ben Jackson Walker, who made his professional theatrical debut in the same role on Broadway, and clearly enjoys bringing out the petulant teen angst of the romantic hero. He also gets the best dramatic entrance in the show.

In this meeting of pop and Shakespearean tragedy, it's natural that the plot has to bend - if only to accommodate the 30-odd millennial hits the show has to offer. Sometimes their place in the narrative is tenuous, sometimes it's inspired - the Oops!... I Did It Again moment is absolutely genius. All the songs are performed in the uplifting spirit of the show, with a band (under the musical direction of Marcus Carter-Adams) who sound as tight as the original studio musicians - with Earth-shattering bass thrown in for good measure. The plot is saccharine and wholesome, with an undeniably sweet message: support each other, love who you want to love, and have the courage to write your own story.

& Juliet might not be for all markets, but as an evening of heartwarming silliness, serious vocal talent, and visual spectacle it definitely qualifies as a good night out. There's even enough Bard-referential material to give the Shakespeare nerds a giggle.

Four Stars

& Juliet was reviewed on Tuesday 22 April by Jessica Clixby at Birmingham Hippodrome, where it shows until Saturday 3 May. It also shows at the Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, from Monday 12 to Saturday 17 May.