Review: MJ The Musical at Her Majesty’s Theatre

Reviewed by Susanne Dahn

The quadruple Tony award winning Broadway show MJ The Musical has arrived at Mike Walsh’s graciously restored Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne and it is a luminously spectacular visual and auditory showcase of Michael Jackson’s extraordinary singing, songwriting and dancing talent. 

Nearly three decades of this unique entertainer’s gift to the world is condensed into 150 minutes of utterly brilliant stagecraft. 

The costumes by Paul Tazewell are dazzling and the choreography and direction of Christopher Weldon is simply stunning. The show’s dance numbers are sit-at-the-front-of-your-seat electric and the homage piece to the Nicholas Brothers, Fred Astaire and Bob Fosse is inspired and sublimely beautiful. Poignant also is the use of puppet strings to manipulate MJ in one dance number. 

The combination of scenic design (Derek McLane), lighting design (Natasha Katz) and projection design (Peter Nigrini) make you completely forget that you are only actually ever in one of two places - the dingy rehearsal room and the vibrant memory and imagination of Michael Jackson. 

The sound design (Gareth Owen) and musical arrangements (Jason Webb), so expertly executed by local music director Michael Azzopardi and 12 piece band, are as good, if not better, than at any great live concert. The boxes of Her Majesty’s have possibly never known such epic speakers and, while you will be sorely tempted, prepare for the Ticketek warning forbidding dancing in the seats. 

This show would be a superb introduction to the work of Michael Jackson for those who don’t know it at all. But if you were ever affected by any of Jackson’s work you will love this show; and if you loved all of Jackson’s work, then this is your show for the ages. 

If you’re disturbed however by aspects of Jackson’s private life, give some thought ahead of time as to whether it is possible to separate admiration of an artist’s art from admiration of the artist themselves. As Michael sings, might it not matter “if you’re black or white”? 

Today’s standards definitely lean away from separation, but we haven’t yet cancelled Caravaggio, Gaugin and Rothko. We still read Rousseau, Pound and Mailer. We still view films by Roman Polanski and Woody Allen. And we still listen to Richard Wagner and Miles Davis. Arguably these artists were flawed as humans. 

When art and the artist are very closely bound together, as they are with performing artists, this disentanglement is clearly more challenging. But you will enjoy this show to the fullest if you can focus on the outstanding contribution Michael Jackson made to twentieth century pop culture, leaving concerns about disturbing or harmful behaviour temporarily at the door. 

And you will be making a small contribution to Michael Jackson’s three children as the show is owned by his yet-to-be-fully distributed Estate. 

This juke box musical is magnificently non-linear allowing for the poetic way we retrieve and integrate our memories. It incorporates multiple Michael Jacksons - little Michael with the Jackson 5, middle Michael making his way as a solo performer and MJ the King of Pop. The brothers are there, as are mother Katherine and domineering father Joseph, a cast and crew in rehearsals for the 1992/93 Dangerous tour and a pesky MTV film crew. 

Some of the most affecting moments are the segments in which multiple Michaels sing together embodying an integration and reconciliation that may never have been possible in real life. 

The early Jackson 5 numbers are a nostalgic delight with energetic performances from Little Michael (Blaiyze Barksdale, William Bonner, Daniel Makunike). 

Aussie Liam Damons, in his stage debut, plays Middle Michael with sparkling style and confidence embodying Jackson’s drive and hunger to break into the pop main stream. What a brilliant first role this is for him.

And imported American Ilario Grant glitters in so many ways as adult MJ. He adopts the soft speaking voice and guarded ways, the ceaseless drive and perfectionism, the creative and playful imagination, but draws deep to project a commanding voice with awesome intent in all the big numbers.

The set list is massive including many many favourites such as Beat It, Smooth Criminal, 

Billie Jean, Thriller, Don’t stop till you get enough, Can you feel it ? and Bad. 

With a set list like this, among many more musical highlights, MJ The Musical is a huge crowd pleaser – the opening night audience were on their feet multiple times including the extended curtain call which is a spectacular and joyously uplifting finale. 

At the finish it is the songs that are the real stars of this show, in this extended and massively entertaining music video come to life, and that is just as Michael Jackson would have wished it.

Image Credit: Daniel Boud