Brisbane Reviews

While we can all agree, everyone knows WHO Michael Jackson is, more than a few of us will not really know the real story behind the infamous ‘King of Pop’.

MJ the Musical takes you on an immersive experience, like a montage of Michael’s memories and influences leading up to his ‘Dangerous’ tour. With the opening night theme being ‘Glamourous’, the audience did not disappoint and were an electric buzz from sparkles to bold black and whites (and even a few singular gloves).

The stage often set to look like a rehearsal space was quickly transformed almost by magic to the amazing cohesion between set design (Derek McLane), projection (Peter Nigrini) and lighting (Natasha Katz) who worked together seamlessly to draw you in to the intimate, making it feel like you’re inside the mind of MJ as they take you on the journey into what is reiterated throughout as “the price of fame”.

Adorned in absolutely flawless costumes (thanks to costume design by Paul Tazewell), the cast and ensemble were just as powerful, with each second sleek and perfect, fluid as water. Switching between multiple characters and changes that never missed a step, a truly phenomenal cast who worked so comfortably together you became fully immersed in each moment. Each character was wonderfully committed, however, I really need to make mention the work of Ilario Grant as MJ – a performance so spectacular it stands out as one of the best character representations I have had the privilege of witnessing. Four standing ovations during the performance cannot be wrong! Grant truly embodied the character and made it feel so real it was like watching memories come to life – moments where MJ is looking in on himself, memories of his youth and influences that shape him into the man he became. The feeling of melancholy as you see inside the mind of a deeply private man, his struggles, you instinctively hope for the happy ending he so truly deserved but are brought back to the reality of knowing the true and unjust ending of a man who had spent every second in the spotlight. We truly learned “the price of fame”. Credits also paid to the combination of a half dozen children playing Little Michael and Little Marlon, who are all making their theatre debut and have no doubt a wonderful career ahead of them.

Absolute powerhouse performances by each and every member of this cast as they move through an epic set list of Michael’s music, backed by a live band (lead by Michael Azzopardi) from his childhood in The Jackson Five and into his first solo debut and beyond. The stage turning into Studio 54; Soul Train to the sets of Smooth Criminal and Thriller, each was a feast for the eyes and definitely for the ears. The visual projections of Michael’s own handwritten notes, newspaper and tabloids who sought to tear down a man in the spotlight – a constant reminder of the “the price of fame”. The music we all know and love threaded intricately through the script as it’s own ‘Smooth Criminal’.

The lyrics of one of the most influential singers in musical history frames the story and gives meaning and insight into a man who rose to fame and changed the face of music and “paved the way for countless artists and left an indelible mark on the world” – quote from Michael Cassell AM, Australian Producer.

Any fan of the music of Michael Jackson will be easily sated with the extensive offering throughout the performance and for the new fans, the undecided, the previously unmoved and the children of the fans? Well, you gotta’ be startin’ something…