To My Romeo With Love

starring: CAYLA BRADY & CHRIS QUARTUCCIO

A teenage girl hides her leukaemia diagnosis so she can carry out her wish to play Juliet opposite her best friend and childhood crush in the school play.

REVIEW

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was apprehensive about this storyline, could Verticals be trusted to handle it sensitively and not slip into click bait schlock?

Thankfully the answer is largely yes and this is entirely due to the two leads who are extraordinary in this, and the fact the script keeps their relationship grounded and gentle

I also appreciate it is always very clear what this is about, so you go in aware as a viewer

@caylatbrady has always been brilliant, she is one of the very best at portraying quiet, dignified resilience on screen. And she is superb in this. I don't really have words. Can't imagine anyone else playing this role

And @chris.quartuccio - please just know you nailed it. His reaction when he finally finds out is what finished me off and started me crying

Both of them are flipping brilliant.

Watch this for them

I don't want to sway nominations but if these 2 don't figure very very highly in nominations for Best Actress and Actor in a Drama in the Vertical Drama Love Fan Awards I will be gob smacked.

@joleneandersen who is consistently brilliant in everything she does, and as I say in the slide does so much with just a look or expression

It's not perfect, I do wish @reelshortapp had the confidence to go all in with this elevated story and dial down Valerie

But all in all it is a really impressive attempt at a difficult topic, and exquisitely handled by the main cast

Finally the most important review is what I am going to post next, please do look at my following post

And that's the opinion which really matters.

💖 Top swoonworthy moment:

There are certain on screen partnerships that hit on a different level, and I think it is down to the level of trust between actors and that they bring the best performance out of each other. Certainly the case with Cayla Brady and Chris Quartuccio.

Because they have that instant connection, we are immediately sold on the relationship. And well done scriptwriters for keeping Mason as the boy next door, and not feeling the need to go down the bad boy redeemed route a la Walk To Remember. Much more powerful that they are just decent, regular kids, who love each other so much.

It’s just perfection.

🦹🏼‍♂️ Top villain award:

This is the trickiest part of this project, I wish Reelshort had had the confidence to dial down Valerie. It really jars with the rest of the show, having this aggressive, slapstick caricature when all the other key characters are so well drawn, and giving amazing performances. It’s not fair on Morgan Franz - she deserves much better. It’s slightly rescued by the fact Penny & Mason don’t stoop to her level, and she gets her comeuppance at the end, with classmates also turning on her. But oh Reelshort I wish you have more faith in your audience, the strength of the script and your lead actors. There is more than enough drama and emotion here without needing to add in this nonsense.

🎺 Unsung hero:

Jenna who thankfully steps in and sorts out the costume nonsense.

I also want to say how damn good Jolene Anderson is. She doesn’t actually have much screen time here, but makes every second count. You know exactly how she feels from her expression, and it is incredibly powerful.

I just want to say she never ever misses, whether she is a scheming matriarch, police chief or caring mum.

✍🏼 DETAILS

Director: Alison-Eve Hammersley | 2025

Available on Reelshort