REVIEW - Burlesque The Musical has tantalisingly untouchable excellence, making it the most glamorously sought after ticket in town!

On Tuesday, we were one of the lucky ones to be at the Manchester Opera House to see Burlesque The Musical. Read what our reviewer Karen Ryder had to say about this incredible production and she's still buzzin' the morning after...

Manchester!!!!!!  This is not a drill!  Burlesque – A Big New Musical - is in town for its World Premiere and it has shaken the new façade of our beloved Quay Street Opera House to its heady and historic foundations!  Talk about bringing Broadway to Manchester!  Burlesque has that sparkling je ne sais quoi quality, that tantalisingly untouchable excellence, making it the most glamorously sought after ticket in town.  Beg, steal, borrow, grab some glitter and a corset to high kick your way backstage if you have to, but get yourself a ticket because musical theatre has just been redefined!  Talk about go big or go home!  Burlesque is unapologetic, yet flawlessly caressing.  It is spectacularly innovative yet classic in its roots.  It is fizzing with ferocity yet touchingly tender and is a magnificent production to behold.  It is so BIG it is coming back again in October so my advice?  Make sure you go!

Enter a world of heady sequins, sparkles, and sensational sass.  Embrace your warm welcome from none other than global superstar Todrick Hall, who has the audience in the palm of his hand and whipped up into a frenzy just by being there!  Within seconds, the electricity is palpable, and the phenomenal standard of this masterpiece is set as Todrick invites us into this intoxicating world, leading the company and by extension, the entire audience into Burlesque.  It is immediately clear that this is a next level production, and even as the showbiz world of New York fades away to reveal Ali in her family-owned diner in Iowa, the first-class production design will firmly place you wherever it intends you to be.

A combination of an intrinsically slick set of balletic scaffolding and the most immersive video design I have ever seen on stage mesmerizingly guide you through the story of Ali, a stunningly talented waitress who embarks upon a journey of self-discovery after recently losing her mum.  Ali’s mum leaves her a letter encouraging her to seek out her birth mum, complete with a name and address.  Ali finds herself face to face with Tess, a fierce and fabulous Burlesque club owner, who has so much going on herself with the threat of the club closing, a drunk star, and a slime of an ex husband who consistently tries to hustle her for money, that she pays Ali no attention and treats her like an irritant.  Bar worker Jackson takes pity on Ali and offers her his couch.  As romance blossoms and opportunity presents itself, Ali grasps both and shows the world just who she is and what she is capable of.  For as they say in Burlesque, “Life’s not fair.  It’s fabulous!”      
  

Writer and producer Steven Antin has taken his beloved film starring the likes of global sensations Christina Aguilera, Cher, and Kristen Bell, and made it even better!  This show has found its spiritual home on stage, and it finally has the freedom to come alive and breathe exactly how it was meant to.  It has been given a modern make over ensuring it is bang up to date, and is full of heart, passion, humour, family and warmth.  The writing is beautifully quick, sharp, and authentic, and the shape of the production effortlessly blends the story with showstoppers in the perfect showbiz sandwich.  Nick Winston has directed and choreographed the bejesus out of this show, and again I have to use the word authentic.  You truly feel you are in NYC as the audience in this club, and that you are watching the events unfold before you.  The choreography beautifully pays homage to just about every Burlesque influence out there, from Vaudeville to Voguing, via Fosse and feather dances.  It is so brilliantly clever as each of these interwoven club routines offer up the sheer breadth of talent that makes up the world of Burlesque.

We see nods to lip syncing, cabaret, striptease, drag, comedy routines, showgirls, acrobatics, jazz, Broadway, hip hop, bohemian, singing, dancing, comperes, flamboyance, set pieces with larger than life props such as giant airborne shoes or huge handbags that have the element of surprise!  It is a spectacular, sizzing sensation of a show.  The ensemble never ceases to amaze as they are the living, breathing heartbeat of the show.  Never stopping, continually pulsing, they effortlessly backflip, front flip, leap into the air from push ups, side split, and spin until you are sure they will corkscrew right through the stage!     

Costume designer Ryan Dawson Laight will blind you with brilliance as you behold the classy, cool, and sophisticated Burlesque on offer.  He blends this classic world of sequins and feathers with a modern urban edge, and the impact hits you with a whoomph!  He even manages to make Ali’s sweats look cool!  The fashion on display is an absolute work of art, as is the set design by Soutra Gilmour and the video design by Nina Dunn.  As previously mentioned, the centrepieces are two impressive malleable scaffolding sets, designed with such versatility and precision that they dance around as additional ensemble when they are moved, creating different spaces.  Their stature allows for cast members to continually be present, watching the story unfold before their eyes, just as we are, which is partly why we feel like an extension of the show. It is very subtle and very brilliant.  A rotating section of stage allows for the passing of time, fancy set pieces, and even doubles up as a stage in the club when it raises up creating an entirely different space yet again.  Combined with outstanding video design by Nina Dunn, it also gives us a 360-degree view of Jacksons apartment and view of the neighbourhood outside as the graphics move around with the stage.  These video designs are beyond anything I have ever seen before.

The detail is exceptional, meaning rather than simply having a backdrop of the neighbourhood from outside the window, you can actually see into these neighbouring apartments, see the tables, the décor.  Somehow, you can even see the lights on in the different homes!  The video designs all have depth and dimensions, making it all 3D, 4D – however many D’s it takes to make it entirely real.  It places you in the heart of New York, and then – the brilliance is, it will play with graphics for the Burlesque routines, giving you iconic music videos, world stage concert vibes, artistic images, and will blow your mind at just about every turn!  Combined with superb lighting by Jack Knowles, this show can take you from an Ohio diner to NYC’S alleyways, to Burlesque, to the dressing rooms, the stage, backstage, the club floor, Jacksons apartment, and to the best corners of your mind.  It’s urban meets glitz in this effervescent world.

And can we just stop and hold our breath as we take in the spellbinding talented cast!  I mean come on!  How to begin?  Jess Folley (Songwriter, Winner of The Voice Kids & X Factor – The Band) as Ali not only takes on a role made famous by the vocal powerhouse that is Christina Aguilera (who does that?) but makes you forget all about Christina Aguilera! (who does THAT?!)  Folley is the kind of brilliance that leaves you smiling agog, lost for words and crying unexpected emotional tears of unfiltered joy at her other worldly talent!  I am lost for words, and yet she portrays this humble dream chaser who clearly doesn’t know just how good she is.  This is the kind of performance that you just have to experience, for the vocal register alone will leave you spell bound, let alone the riffs, the emotional engagement and the fierceness.  Folley is such a natural and spectacular performer, and we must remember that she also wrote many of the songs in the show too!  What a talent!

As is the global sensation that is Todrick Hall (Choreographer, singer, actor, dancer, songwriter for the superstars such as Beyonce, Chicago, MTV show Todrick,) as Sean, who also wrote many of the shows songs!  People often ask what makes a superstar?  I’d tell them to watch Todrick Hall because he is as intoxicating as he is talented!  It is a larger than life performance that is full of heart, humanity, passion and love.  You cannot help but be drawn in and be hypnotised by his sheer talent and likeability.  The singing, dancing, acting, showmanship, presence, and even improv is world class and I genuinely feel entirely spoilt and privileged that I have seen such a professional, yet accessible performer who somehow manages to be a superstar yet feel like your best bud at the same time.  Jackie Burns (Wicked, Titanique, If/Then, Rock Of Ages) soars as Tess and sets the stage alight with her insane vocals and spectacular performance.  She will move you, make you laugh, and make you wish you had a Tess on your own team!  She really brings this character to life and her ability to emotionally connect with a song and make you feel everything she is feeling is a true gift, so be prepared for her to own your heart for much of the show.  A true Broadway legend and I felt every second of it.  What an honour. 

Michael Mather (It’s A Sin, But I’m A Cheerleader, Flashdance) as Jackson is heartwarming, charming, cheeky, playful and fabulous.  He is the perfect example of how a male lead can be strong and tender, macho and vulnerable all at the same time and it is refreshing to see.  Brilliant vocals, and an outstanding relationship with Folley.  George Maguire (Sunny Afternoon, Bonnie & Clyde, Rent) brings out a different side to Vince, Tess’s ex-husband, which I found was spot on.  He really makes this character believable and portrays the sneaky, desperate snake in the grass side of Vince, bringing fresh clarity to this part.  He is always there, acting by reacting, and excuse the pun but his solo ‘Ammo’ will blow your socks off!  Nina Ann Nelson (Citizen Queen, Love Actually Live, One Day, Songwriter) is excellent as the somewhat entitled Nikki, and knows exactly where to draw the line so that she still has redeeming features and she doesn’t become the villain of the piece.  It is a superb balancing act of a performance and one that isn’t easy but is executed flawlessly.  We see spiralling and self-sabotaging behaviour nestling against Nikki’s professional stage persona and it is an eye opener to remember that the performers we see on stage have very real lives off of it too.

Burlesque is a spectacle of a show and one that will not disappoint.  With a mix of songs you will recognise from the film such as the showstopping ‘Show Me How You Burlesque’ (Christina Aguilera) to the emotive ‘You Haven’t See The Last Of Me’ (Diane Warren), down to the sizzling new songs such as ‘Big’, ‘Ammo’ and ‘What Are Clothes’ by Todrick Hall or ‘Got It All From You’ or ‘Home’ from Jess Folley, you cannot fail to be entertained, engulfed and fall in love with everything this show has to offer, and everything that it represents.  Acceptance, forgiveness, family, love, determination, and never giving in to your own self-doubt.  Of course, we all went to Burlesque expecting fabulousness, but you soon realise there are levels of fabulousness, and this succeeds any level you even knew existed!  What I hadn’t expected was to be so hooked in emotionally, and I found exactly what I didn’t even know I needed in this show. 

Listening to ‘You Haven’t Seen The Last Of Me’ gave me back my own spirited and scrappy fire in my belly, a precious gift during a personal difficult time, so I have to thank the show for that.  And on a tricky day, watching this spectacular show Burlesque, that chose The Opera House Manchester to premiere, gave me and many others a fabulous evening and exquisite memories that can’t ever be taken away.  Memories that will bind us and bond us.  And even as the standing ovation erupted before the show had reached its conclusion, and the glitter rained down from above, we all knew that this was something extra.  Something special.  And the magic didn’t end there!  As if this show hadn’t already proven it is all about heart, love, and pulling together no matter who you are, who do I find helping my dad up the stairs and chatting away with like they’re long lost buddies?  The writer and producer Steven Antin himself!  What an absolute legend!  And as if that’s not enough, Robin Antin (Creative co-producer & associate choreographer) was right behind cheering my dad on!  They stayed and had a chat, loving that their show is for everyone.  I couldn’t agree more and think that this, above anything, else rings true for the heart of the show and answers one of its own songs – “That’s what Burlesque is!”

 

WE SCORE BURLESQUE THE MUSICAL...

Burlesque The Musical is on at the Manchester Opera House until Saturday 29th June and then returns from October 3rd to November 2nd 2024.


Watch our "In Conversation with Todrick Hall" video


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