Profile for PinniGig

I think West Side might pick up over the next few weeks or so. It was a bad time to open with so many shows re-opening in theatres everywhere around the same time, COVID making people on edge and many that decided to stay at home and not risk having to cancel plans made for Christmas. It's early days.

MJ The Musical - "He is one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Now, Michael Jackson’s unique and unparalleled artistry has finally arrived on Broadway in a brand-new musical that takes audiences inside the creative process of one of the greatest entertainers in history. Featuring over 25 of Michael Jackson's biggest hits, MJ allows us to rediscover the man in the mirror – with an explosion of music and theatricality as unforgettable as the artist himself"

When I first heard about this and read the brief details, it conjured up a mental image that sounded potentially brilliant as a live show and tribute to MJ's best work and greatest achievements.  Similar to the first part of “Moonwalker” it gave me the idea audiences would go through his career from late 60's as a young child right through to his solo career leading up to where they want to end on a high with his Dangerous world tour in 1992.

Different cast and costumes to reflect each immediately recognisable era, simple but clever set and scenery changes / lighting and use of projection in parts is what  thought would carry it flawlessly from start to finish.

Given his videos featured live footage, cardboard cut outs and stop motion animation used all together as seen in "Leave me Alone" and "Dancing Machine" that too would be superb brought to life on the stage.  

It's also why I was so disappointed and did a U-turn after reading the very detailed review by @rpvee2.

Sounds like someone has the right idea and is trying hard to give audiences the music, dance and legend but also want to make sure it's known how much he endured at the hands of his abusive father.  That's where it loses me completely.

Described as a dazzling show taking audiences through MJ's creative process that defined him – so what is Joe Jackson doing in it?  What does it want or hope to do?

Link to clip for anyone unfamiliar but this is how I saw it in my mind with full cast, projections and some nifty stage props and costumes that bring to life.

Over the Years (from Moonwalker)

https://youtu.be/ixJxfRpRjbU
 

@rpvee2  Not gonna lie that very detailed and thorough review made me go from thinking it'd be hard to go wrong with a musical featuring the best music from the last time MJ was at his peak / prime in terms of live performances to thinking I could not be more wrong.  It sounds terrible. 

Everything sounds terrible.  I was willing to overlook the timeline they chose to set the story and expected some glossing over the facts to keep it light and loyal to the fans that don't want or need one of music's true legends picking and pulling apart but God in Heaven that sounds dreadful.

BoringBoredBoard40 said: "I stil would like to understand how Christopher Wheeldon ended up as the director on this..."

I have a feeling he's sat wondering the same thing

BWAY Baby2 said: "We always stay at the Ritz and the prices are really not so bad"

Prices really not so bad... oh man that tickled me