Ever since I was about 12 years old and bought and watched the DVD of Moulin Rouge!, I have wanted nothing more than to see this iconic and beautiful film brought to stage. Needless to say, I was beyond excited going into tonight’s first Broadway preview. I am elated to say that this production did not disappoint me.
Entering the theatre is like stepping into a new world. Swaths of velvet and glittering chandeliers adorn the ceiling, all of the walls all the way to the back of the mezzanine are covered in red velvet. The famous elephant and windmill tower over the audience in the boxes. The stage is a Valentine-esque kaleidoscope.
From the very first downbeat, this show fires on all cylinders at a full throttled volume. This electric energy is consistent throughout the two hour and forty five minute run time. The spectacle is not only in the physical production, but in the stamina every single performer on the stage naturally exudes.
The cast is top notch. Aaron Tveit is the perfect Christian. He is charming and charismatic beyond belief while still giving off the poor artist vibe. While I thought Karen Olivo was quite good, I wanted more from her. Her performance felt slightly restrained in a lot of areas. Her Satine is very different from the sassy, bold, and fierce Satine in the film, and I don’t always think that worked for the best.
Visually, this is easily one of the most beautiful and elaborate productions I have seen on Broadway. The sets are absolutely massive. The costumes are jaw dropping and beautiful. There are quite a few sets and costumes that get maybe less than three minutes of stage time, but they are just as beautifully and intricately designed.
All in all, this was a slam dunk for me in every aspect. It is sparklingly beautiful, full of high energy and sizzling passion, and just an explosion of theatrical magic. In other words, it is EVERYTHING the long awaited stage adaptation of Moulin Rouge! should be, and even a little bit more!
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