On my way to the Lyric for the MJ musical, my brain was floating catchy snaps of his songs. The auditorium filled with nostalgia as “Jam’, “Billie Jean” and “Smooth Criminal ” tore the air. “Thriller” was by far spine-tingling.
The show ping-pongs back and forth in time, as the story unfolds on his version, which pits him either victorious or victim.
MJ the musical sets Jackson’s relationship with the media, as its anchor point. Daddy-issues piled on like a hammer. The show is set in 1992 on the eve of his comeback, The Dangerous World Tour, way before the allegations surfaced, before the stardust fell from the sky.
The musical is daring in format and creative choices. Michael is played by six performers portraying different stages of his life including Liam Damon’s and William Bonner who are captivating and mesmerising. The sets, backdrops, videos, projection and lighting creat a thrilling visual experience.
The production and cast are brilliant, the band tight and the sets are perfect allowing the choreography to inspire. The cast are athletic, versatile dancers and actors, singing to a receptive audience, as is the music itself, drawing on the extensive back catalogue of the Jackson 5, The Jackson’s and Michael Jackson himself. The house band bring back the memories to sparkling clarity.
Roman Banks is fantastic, shapeshifting in an unforgettable performance that had one forgetting it isn’t MJ himself on stage. As pure entertainment, it doesn’t get better. The musical gives considerable time to the verbal and physical abuse Michael suffered at the hands of his father and manager. At several junctions of the show we are confronted with the voracious behaviour of the media and the rest of the clown show feeding of DJ’S ability to churn money.
The production showcases the impact and energy of his songs with many of the biggest hits featured. I appreciated how it blended his life story with his music, offering insights into his personal struggles and creative processes. Several songs moisten the eyes,as, as well as make you leap in enthusiasm.
If you know the songs and perhaps the struggles and controversies it blows you away, even as we remember that the plot is about the behind-the-scenes struggle.
As pure entertainment, it doesn’t get better.
