Anyone who enjoys listening to “The King of Pop” will also find much to relish in MJ The Musical as he returns moonwalking to the West End on Old Compton Street in Soho, says Rosanna Chodurek a recent viewer of the show.
This performance embraces moments of an insight into Michael Jackson’s complex life and “the creative mind of an incomparable showman”.
Set in 1992, we jump back in time to see young MJ perform his first debut with his family in The Jackson Five, and how he dealt with such fame under the mangement of his father, Joe Jackson.
"Be warned", said Rosanna: the performance entails spectacular recitals of his iconic hits, including Smooth Criminal, Man in the Mirror, Billie Jean and of course the unforgettable Thriller, that make you want to “get up and boogie”.
The piece focuses on his preparation to launch his renowned Dangerous World Tour, and having an ambitious MTV crew filming his rehearsals Michael opens up in an interview about his relationship with fans and the press.
"It seemed to me that the production tilted towards the comedic side" said Rosanna when interviewed after the show, which in turn almost makes you forget the solemnity of much of his life story.
Despite this, the exhilarating performance is packed with MJ’s well known dance moves and the appearance of his iconic fashion statements: the one white glove paired with the black and red leather jacket in his 1982 album Thriller.
As we watch MJ grow into his solo career, from moonwalking to pranking everyone by dressing up as a janitor, or even squirting his manager with a water gun, he tackles the complexities of fame and the ceaseless strain to be bigger and better in his next performance on stage.
Jump back in time to the 1990s to celebrate MJ’s extraordinary legacy at Prince Edward Theatre.
Whether you are a fan or not, you should be captivated by the musical’s colourful stagecraft and electrifying dance pieces. Tickets can be booked online at London Theatre.
The running time is 2 hours and 30 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission.
End date for production- 26th April, 2025
