LONDON
London Theatre Review :
THRILLER LIVE
by Sarah Green
THIS IS NOT A MUSICAL . REPEAT : THIS IS NOT A MUSICAL . WELL , NOT TECHNICALLY . BUT IT IS AN EXCELLENT NIGHT OUT , PARTICULARLY IF YOU ’ RE A FAN OF THE MUSIC OF MICHAEL JACKSON ( AND REALLY , WHO ISN ’ T ?).
So having started out by proclaiming that Thriller Live isn ’ t a musical , we need to clarify exactly what it actually is . In essence , Thriller Live is a fast moving , brightly lit , fantastically , flawlessly choreographed collection of Michael Jackson songs ( starting , in fact , way back when with the Jackson 5 ) performed by a variety of different MJ impersonators . What ’ s truly wonderful , and what gives the show an extra shine , is that the singers who perform their hearts out with Jackson ’ s extensive and joyous back catalogue are both male and female , of varying ages and from different ethnic backgrounds . It just goes to show how universal Michael Jackson ’ s music really was and always will be .
And it is magnificent . Every move , every note , every gorgeous scene is exactly as it should be , and MJ himself would , we ’ re sure , be both proud and impressed at just how well this show is performed , night after night .
Thriller Live has been live on stage since 2007 , but it recently underwent a makeover , with new songs added and some extra sparkle included . It has made the show longer , and even more entertaining , with a brand new opening medley that puts everyone in the mood for what is to come .
Speaking of sparkle , the show snaps and pops along just like Jackson himself always did , showing off in the best possible way . The songs included – all massive hits – offer us a glimpse and a taster of the Bad and Thriller albums along with some superb solo offerings and of course the early Jackson 5 records . The choice of which songs to include must have been a difficult one , but the mix of fast and slow , happy and sad works well , showing the audience all sides to the late performer .
Perhaps the most important part of any big , bold show such as this is the finale . It ’ s what people are going to have in their minds as they leave , it ’ s what will get them to their feet to applaud and cheer . And in Thriller Live , no one will be disappointed – it is , in a ( rather apt ) word , thrilling . For a full-on 20 minutes , there is song after song executed with finesse and a freshness that is surprising considering how well everyone knows the lyrics and the moves . This is where “ Earth Song ”, “ Thriller ”, “ Smooth Criminal ”, “ Billie Jean ” and “ Bad ” finally make an appearance , and the staging , the costumes , the innovative yet distinctly MJ dance moves are enough to make everyone want to get involved .
So , does Thriller Live need a plot ? Does it need characters ? Does it need to be , in other words , a musical ? No , it does not . The fun and excitement of Thriller Live is that it is a showcase of stunning sounds and sights – it doesn ’ t need to be anything more .
www . thrillerlive . com
26