←Recommendations of Romeo & Her Sister

An enchanting piece. Beautifully written and likely as much fun to play as to experience.

I had the great pleasure of seeing the premiere production of Jillian Blevins' often funny, richly imagined, and highly satisfying Romeo & Her Sister. The play captures the complexity of its three central characters – sisters Charlotte and Susan Cushman and Sally Mercer – as they struggle to navigate their relationships with one another, with their identities, and with the world (theatrical and otherwise) around them. At the same time, it centers an important piece of queer history and provides a compelling portrait of the challenges and ultimate joy and power of even difficult sisterhood.

I had very little knowledge of either Cushman sister before this play. Jillian Blevins has created a period piece that takes an audience member backstage into the people who orbit Charlotte Cushman, with every character fleshed out as we come to realize, along with Charlotte, that she is a star in a constellation and not the center of everything.

A piece with opportunities for comedy, farce, drama, and period work, not to mention a bit of Shakespeare, Romeo & Her Sister delivers for all types of actors and audiences.

“Romeo and Her Sister” is exactly the kind of play I want to see when I go to the theater - smart, well crafted, and literary. Blevins has done the research on the historical characters she introduces us to, leaving me so intrigued, I read up further on them. What I appreciated most about the play was the bookended prologue and epilogue, delivered by a supporting character who provides insight on what it is like to be eclipsed not only because of gender but because of race as well. Truly a wonderful play.

It's shocking that 19th century stage star Charlotte Cushman, at one point the highest-paid actor in the English-speaking world, is so utterly unknown today -- largely due to the jealousy of her male rivals and the legacy-erasing secrecy she felt forced to maintain over her lesbianism. Jillian Blevins beautifully corrects the record with this delightful historical fiction, bringing the wildly talented, egotistic, & sexual voracious Charlotte to life, and exploring her complicated relationship to her dependent sister. Tightly plotted and packed with great characters (Sallie Mercer in particular), the intrigue here is entertaining as hell - and powerful. Brava.

"Romeo & Her Sister" is an electrifying play filled with rich characters and a touching story. This play examines how the theater can be both a safe haven and a hell on earth. Blevins knows just when to pull the audience's heartstrings, and when to jolt them. It goes from feeling intimate to larger than life. This would be a really wonderful piece to produce for any theater small or big.

Romeo & Her Sister" is a witty and vibrant theatrical journey through Victorian London. The Cushman sisters' rivalry and charm captivate, delivering laughter and intrigue. A must read that brilliantly echoes Oscar Wilde, it celebrates talent and timeless storytelling. Bravo to the Jullian Blevins!

What a great story to bring to life! Jillian Blevins gives us a complex, compelling and often very funny play about sisters, the stage and the secrets that shape us. Blevins blends the language of Shakespeare with the language of 19th-century London as Charlotte, Susan and and the rest leap off the page and into our imagination in a story that modern audiences will not only relate to, but love.

*Selected for 2023-24 Salon Reading Series - Angels Theatre Co.

Romeo & Her Sister is an achievement. Well-crafted and internally complex, the play provides an intimate portrait of three women struggling to connect with one another amidst a society bent on challenging their position. And, while each succeeds in some manner, the story does not feel forced–and it remains both imaginative and historically accurate. It is a rare example of a work that uses its history to provide an accurate and necessary lens, bringing our modern condition into focus. Highly Recommended.

"Cushmania" has taken over my life, and this sharp, intelligent, hilarious play is more than worth the hype! This is a compelling, theatrical story of sisterhood, with some brilliantly prescient ideas at the center. It's grounded in the period but with a fresh and modern sensibility. The script is packed with funny, larger-than-life, and complex roles for women (and some men). The plot is immaculately crafted, and the verse is a playful, genius touch that never feels out of place in the heightened world of the play. A fast-paced and moving story of queerness, friendship, and art! Bravo!