Moulin Rouge!: The Musical reopens at Piccadilly Theatre

Behind the iconic screens of Piccadilly Circus, an equally big sign has been in situ since a year ago: bold and red, the luminous board for Moulin Rouge! The Musical suggests the lewd, flamboyant acts that could be hiding within. This week it reopens with a new cast on the stage. The audience is welcomed into Piccadilly Theatre by an enveloping, flashy ambience, complete with strolling characters in costume. There couldn’t be an apter preamble to what is to follow: an exhilaratingly fantastic show. Where Baz Luhrmann enchanted with the romantic and exciting movie version of Moulin Rouge, Alex Timbers directs an astounding, pulsating production that’s hard to forget. Matching John Logan’s book, Sonya Tayeh’s choreography makes waves, while Justin Levine’s music is top-notch, travelling across genres and eras.

In Paris, Christian (Jamie Muscato) meets Toulouse-Lautrec (Ian Carlyle) and Santiago (Elia Lo Tauro), who introduce him to the principles that Bohemians live for and persuade him to audition for a future show they want to make with Moulin Rouge star Satine (Melissa James). She receives the penniless songwriter, mistaking him for the Duke (Ben Richards), whom she is supposed to seduce so that he can save the cabaret financially. As Satine and Christian fall in love, the possessive Duke casts his shadow over their destiny.

The stage adaptation has already received great acclaim for its first opening, and the new cast further builds on its success. Flawlessly assuming the role of the innocent and madly-in-love poet, Muscato has a pliable voice that cuts across registers. James sails on safer tones but with a smooth and mighty resonance.

The music permeates every part of the script, mostly dominated by crazy mash-ups that are an all-encompassing spectacle, or lingering in the background as acoustic support. The orchestra is quiet for barely three or four moments in total, where the drama reaches its acme. The score keeps the hits from the picture with lots of adaptations (some sequences of Roxane are restored to The Police’s tempo), but it’s also widely expanded and remixed with contemporary and unforgettable oldies spanning 160 years of material, and featuring (among many) Lady Gaga, Adele and Walk the Moon. The Elephant Love Medley becomes an upbeat melodic exchange of single lines from the most disparate artists slotting in with each other in a single sequence.

As anticipated at the entrance, the stage set is grandiose, with attention to detail in the props and backdrops. The same care is found in the costumes: an enviable fantasy of frills, colours and textures, from bawdy fishnet tights to rainbow can-can dresses and Satine’s shimmering gowns. Mention must be made of Justin Townsend, whose lighting design creates a mesmerising cinematic effect in many scenes.

Romance, poetry, fun and exuberant performance: this musical is a unique, ecstatic experience.

Cristiana Ferrauti

Moulin Rouge!: The Musical reopens is at Piccadilly Theatre from 17^th January until 1^st January 1970. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.