On the 25th June 2009, the world lost an icon. Now, that word is used a lot but what does it mean? Well according to the internet, an icon is “a person or thing regarded as a representative symbol or as worthy of veneration” and although the word is used a lot, in this particular case, as we mention the death of American singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, actor, and philanthropist Michael Jackson, it is definitely apt. When he died, he left behind a huge backlog of some of the best music ever produced and in Thriller Live at London’s Lyric Theatre you can have the chance to experience them in a way that would make Michael proud.
Although advertised as a musical, Thriller Live is not a traditional show in that respect. It is more of a wonderful concert taking the audience from Michael’s early years with the Jackson 5 through to his world record achievements as a solo artist with massive hits ‘Thriller’ and ‘Bad’. In order to cover the range of music, there are six lead singers ranging from young Marcellus Virgo-Smith at the performance I saw to the adult performers which included the wonderful voice of Cleo Higgins. Thankfully, there is no attempt to build some sort of story in the show, although there are some minor interludes as the cast speak about Michael’s life. Instead, the spectacle of the show is there for the audience to see, live and enjoy. And believe me enjoy it you will. Whether you are a huge fan of The King of Pop or just thought Michael J was a pretty good singer, you cannot help but be pulled into this highly artistic and energetic celebration of his work.
Everything from the amazing set – a sort of bridge surrounded by wonderfully versatile Tetris pieces – by Jonathan Park, and intense lighting designed by Nigel Catmur, through to the easily recognisable Jacksonesque costumes, is pulled together by Director/Choreographer Gary Lloyd to set the scene for a fantastic performance by an energetic cast of dancers and singers. This is a show that doesn’t sit still and the line-up of performers changes as does the song list – let’s be honest – Michael Jackson’s back catalogue is so huge that you could do a different show every night and still not cover every one of them. However having said that, certain songs not only have to be in the show but also have to be perfect. So expect a fabulous, zombie-filled rendition of ‘Thriller’ and the gravity-defying movements in ‘Smooth Criminal’ not to mention some of the smoothest ‘Moonwalking’ you will ever encounter.
The production is fast-paced and amazingly energetic and I was actually surprised that when it finished over two hours had elapsed, time is not something you think about as you sing, clap and occasionally dance your way through. By the end, near enough everyone was on their feet and yelling for more – I wouldn’t have minded another hour or so.
I was lucky enough to see Michael Jackson live at Wembley in 1997 and have to say, this is the nearest thing to that concert that I can imagine. Michael himself may be dead but with Thriller Live – just celebrating becoming the 15th longest running musical in the West End – delighting audiences eight times a week his music lives on.
Dawid Minnar Janine Ulfane – Photograher credit Alixandra Fazzina. “Survival of the fittest” is a phrase that originated from Darwinian evolutionary theory as a way of describing the mechanism of natural selection. Which means that even in the most inhospitable of placers, life will find a way – even if at times, you may look and think what’s the point? For example, in South Africa, the aloe plant is considered one of the country’s most powerful, beautiful and celebratory symbols. It survives out in the wild when everything else is dried. At the end of everything, the aloe is still there. And it is this survival that is at the heart of Athol Fugard’s A Lesson From Aloes which has returned to the UK and is currently in residence at the Finborough Theatre. Set in South Africa in 1963, where apartheid is at its height and the citizens are living in a paranoid police state. The play revolves around a middle-aged left-leaning couple – Afrikaner Piet Bezuidenhout (Dawid Minnaar) and hi
Since 1912, the Blackburn Musical Theatre Company has been entertaining the theatre going folks of this Lancashire town with their annual musical production. In that time, they have covered the vast array of musical theatre from their first production - Sunday - through to their latest - Hello Dolly - which I caught at the Blackburn Empire Theatre. Dolly Gallagher Levi (Sue Chadwick) is a woman that likes to meddle, or as she puts it, arrange things. Whatever you need doing, Dolly is the person for the job. And right now, she is the talk of turn of the century New York, having brought together Mr Horace Vandergelder (Kris Wlodarczyk), the well-known half-a-millionaire and Mrs Irene Molloy (Laura Mitchell) a widowed millener. Their engagement and subsequent marriage seems pretty much sewn up though neither is marrying for love. Horace, as he tells his Chief Clerk, Cornelius Hackl (Ryan Coe), and Assistant, Barnaby Tucker (Fletcher Illingworth), is looking for someone to r
Since July 2014, I've seen and reviewed 588 shows altogether. 2017 was a fairly quiet year with a total of 132 shows visited by yours truly. So, in the best traditions of end of the year ideas, here is my list of the top 10 shows that I've seen this year. Please remember, this is my list not anybody else's and if you don't agree with the pick, well, what can I say? 1. Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Bridewell Theatre This story of friendship and hope took two drag queens and a trans woman from Sydney to Alice Springs, in a big pink bus. Along the way, the met new friends and face rampant homophobia. SEDOS brought every element of the show together beautifully, and to a standard that you would expect to see in the West End. Sold out virtually as soon as it was announced, this was the ‘must see production of the year. 2. La Cage aux Folles, New Wimbledon Theatre This is was a touring production of a show that demonstrates the importance of family a
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