Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Palace Theatre Manchester
Thursday twenty first 2025
Most jukebox musicals function the songs of 1 artist, however not Moulin Rouge! The Musical that gives over 70 basic tunes in a few hours. Paul Clarke joins within the musical mayhem.
There are jukebox musicals after which there may be Moulin Rouge! The Musical which is in a special league altogether. Most jukebox reveals like Mamma Mia give attention to the songs of 1 artist, however Moulin Rouge options quick snippets of a staggering 74 songs, from The White Stripes to Britney Spears.
From the second you stroll into the Palace Theatre, you grow to be completely immersed in a present the place excessive is an totally redundant idea as you’re confronted with Derek McLane’s delicious coronary heart formed set as top-hatted rakes and Can Can women stalk the stage. Up within the field seats, there’s a large windmill and an enormous elephant head, which shall be acquainted to anybody who’d seen Baz Luhrmann’s deranged film model starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor.
Earlier than you’ve even began your popcorn, 4 sultry dancers burst onstage for an exhilarating opening sequence singing Woman Marmalade as Can Can dancers blast out As a result of We Can, interspersed with Speaking Heads’ Burning Down The Home. It shouldn’t make any sense, however truly does as a result of it’s so gloriously excessive and unselfconsciously in your face, you’re simply swept alongside within the glitz and glamour.
John Logan’s guide interweaves by the hits an age-old story of American songwriter Christian, who has come to Paris, the place he hooks up with native bohemians residing on the rebellious West Financial institution, together with artist Toulouse-Lautrec. Christian meets and falls in love with stunning courtesan Satine, who can also be the star of the legendary Moulin Rouge nightclub, which is in deep monetary hassle. Satine reciprocates his naive amour earlier than native gangster The Duke enters, and far to Christian’s chagrin, affords to bankroll a brand new present, however provided that we will have the star performer all to himself. So does love win the day? It’s a musical, so what do you suppose?
Satine, performed by Verity Thompson, is launched through a bonkers montage of Diamond-themed songs made well-known by the likes of Shirley Bassey and Marilyn Monroe. Thompson is by a rustic mile the star of this present, giving the position of streetwalker turned singer the emotional depth it wants. Her highly effective voice simply fills this huge house, particularly on the witty Solely Lady In A Materials World montage, the place she is joined by dancers in one other of Catherine Zuber’s flamboyant interval costumes for a excessive power routine to Single Women (Put A Ring On It). Huge Ballad Come What Could is the one unique music within the present, and Thompson brings actual heartbreak to her duet with the spectacular Josh Rose as Christian, who nails his personal showstopper, Elton John’s Your Music.
The spectacular set design, filled with evocative flats, takes two thousand individuals on a journey by Paris, and a high quality ensemble makes probably the most of Sonya Tayeh’s at all times energetic and enjoyable choreography, which makes Bob Fosse look restrained. They’re readily available for the Elephant Love Medley as they smash by an astonishing 20 songs in 4 minutes, together with tunes by Bowie, U2 and Tina Turner.
Cameron Blakely is splendidly sleazy as he channels Cabaret’s Emcee enjoying Moulin Rouge ringmaster Harold Zidler, who each loves and exploits Satine. Santiago is likely one of the most pointless characters in musical theatre, who’s solely onstage to carry out the supposedly sultry El Tango De Roxanne, which is weak; right here, it provides nothing, however Rodrigo Negrini does his greatest with a cod Argentinian accent and a duff position. In distinction, Kurt Kansley brings actual pathos to the drunken Toulouse-Lautrec, additionally in love with Satine, and his touching model of Nature Boy finishes with the road ‘the best factor you’ll ever be taught is simply to like and be beloved in return’, which is what this present is all about.
James Bryers as The Duke is nearly a panto villain incomes natured boo at curtain name, though he does execute a trio of Rolling Stones numbers that set out his dastardly nature with nice aplomb.
I first noticed this present on Broadway, the place it was marred by too many impolite Individuals loudly and tunelessly singing alongside, so good on the Manchester viewers who waited till the Extra Extra Extra! megamix on the finish earlier than attending to their ft for a deserved standing ovation, and a lusty sing-along.
In the event you’re searching for excessive artwork, then Moulin Rouge! The Musical isn’t the present for you. If you wish to be extremely entertained by a solid with no weaknesses belting out basic tunes all night time, and who’ve completely purchased into the absurdity and glitzy chaos, then it is a good night time out – even in case you don’t very similar to musical theatre.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical is at Palace Theatre Manchester till Saturday, 4th October. E-book right here:
You’ll be able to comply with Moulin Rouge! The Musical on Fb and Twitter.
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Phrases by Paul Clarke, you may see his writer profile right here.
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