Bubbling up with Helena

If you know me, you know I love the musical & Juliet. The show imagines, at the request of Shakespeare’s wife, for a change in the end of Romeo and Juliet. She asks Shakespeare to collaborate with her to write a version of the ending of the play where Juliet doesn’t die.

I am a huge Shakespeare nerd. It was destined with a name like Helena. & Juliet includes many clever Shakespeare lines and allusions that always make me smile. I thought I would share just some of my favorites.

The players’ names

The ensemble of & Juliet is called the Players. Each of them has a name that is a Shakespeare reference. Their names include Viola, Titania, Portia, and (my favorite) Helena. These are all Shakespeare characters. There is also a Judith, the name of Shakespeare’s daughter, and Fletcher, named after a collaborator of Shakespeare’s.

“I’m Rosaline, we used to date”

At Romeo’s funeral, Juliet approaches a crying woman at Romeo’s coffin. When Juliet asks her if she knew Romeo, she responds, “I’m Rosaline, we used to date.” This, of course, is a reference to the woman with whom Romeo is infatuated at the beginning of Romeo and Juliet. Rosaline is actually Juliet’s cousin in the play, so it’s especially funny that she’s introducing herself in this scene.

“I can’t speak. I’m so out of breath. I can’t even say one word.”

Juliet’s nurse enters in & Juliet complaining about being out of breath as Juliet is trying to speak to her. This is exactly how the nurse enters in Romeo and Juliet when Juliet is seeking information from her about Romeo.

“Banished? Do not say banished!”

Juliet tells Romeo that he is not invited to her wedding to François Du Bois. His immediate response is, “Banished? Do not say banished.” He pronounces it with an emphasis on the final syllable. Because of Shakespeare’s use of iambic pentameter, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet would have to pronounce it that way to keep the rhythm. I love this cheeky little reference to that.

“Sometimes the apparel doth not proclaim the man”

Shakespeare reveals that he has asked May to join the Du Bois family band. When Frankie sees May dressed in the band costume, Frankie asks May, “Why are you dressed like that?” and May responds, “Why are you dressed like THAT? Sometimes the apparel doth not proclaim the man.” This is a reference to Hamlet when Polonius tells his son, Laertes, that “the apparel oft proclaim the man.” May is reversing Polonius’ advice and reminding Frankie not to judge a book by its cover.

“As I always say, music is the food of love”

As part of his wedding speech for his son, Frankie, Lance Du Bois, says, “As I always say, music is food of love.” This is a reference to the opening line of Twelfth Night where Orsino says, “If music be the food of love, play on.” Shakespeare interrupts Lance and says, “Really? Is that something YOU always say?” It is a great little joke for nerds like me who know Twelfth Night backwards and forwards.

“I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest”

When Anne, Shakespeare’s wife, asks him to explain why he wants her at the end of the show, he says to her “I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest.” This is a beautiful line from Much Ado About Nothing. Earlier in the show, Shakespeare quotes himself as a show of ego, but here, he is doing the opposite, which encourages Anne to listen to him.

If you have seen & Juliet, let me know if any of these moments stood out to you. Of course, please share any favorite Shakespeare moments as well.