Romeo, Romeo… wherefore art thou… François?
Everyone knows Juliet is meant to choose Romeo, and then die a dramatic death. But when Bairnsdale Production Line Theatre Company’s musical & Juliet opens at the Forge Theatre this coming Friday, May 1, that familiar story takes an unexpected turn, with a new name entering the conversation.
At the centre of it all is a bold and confident Juliet, played by Cohen Baylis, whose rewrite asks a simple but compelling question. If Juliet’s story doesn’t end with Romeo, what comes next? And more importantly, who comes next?
Enter Kenny Goncharow as François, a character who brings a very different kind of possibility into Juliet’s world.
“Right from the beginning I’ve loved playing François,” Kenny said.
“In a way, it feels like I’m just being myself on stage, because there’s so much of him that I connect with and relate to, making it very easy to embody the character.
“François is funny, anxious and all over the place, which makes him an absolute blast to play. All the great songs I get to sing are a fun bonus too. Whilst I’m super hyped for the whole season, I’m especially excited for opening night, because this is the largest role I’ve had in a musical, and I’m so excited to see what everybody thinks of the show.”
Playing opposite Kenny in the role of Romeo is Will Hardy. But this Romeo is not the same Romeo audiences think they know.
“In high school I read Romeo and Juliet, but & Juliet’s Romeo is completely different. I really like how bold and dramatic he is, he’s introduced like a rock star and that intensity is carried throughout the show. It’s a lot of fun to play someone quite different to yourself,” Will said.
“I love seeing the audience get really involved and engaging with shows like this. It’ll be fun to see what outfits people wear to the dress-up evening on Saturday night. It really adds to the excitement and energy that we the cast feel on stage, as well as the atmosphere felt by the audience themselves.”
Whether Juliet’s future lies with Romeo, François, or somewhere entirely her own, & Juliet leaves no doubt that this is no longer a story bound by its original ending.
Opening night on Friday promises to be a lively celebration, with a complimentary glass of bubbly and a supper provided by dedicated Production Line sponsor New Leaf Cafe. The celebrations continue on Saturday night, May 2, with audiences encouraged to join in the fun by dressing the part, embracing & Juliet’s distinctive Tudor-meets-80s pop style.
& Juliet runs for a three week season at The Forge, finishing with a Sunday matinee on May 17. Further information is available via Bairnsdale Production Line Theatre Company and The Forge’s Facebook and website pages.
