One of the joys of being a theater critic is discovering an unexpected gem among the thousands of productions I’ve reviewed over the years. Such was the thrill of seeing Giulia: The Poison Queen of Palermo at the Perelman Performing Arts Center.
To say it’s a diamond in the rough would not be entirely accurate because this world premiere production is as polished and almost ready for a Broadway transfer as any off-Broadway musical could be. Its unique blend of original story-telling and irresistibly tuneful songs is the work of one incredibly gifted person – Jennifer Nettles – and the work is bound to draw comparisons to Hamilton.
