Review: Moulin Rouge! The Musical World Tour at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre

We headed up to Dublin on a blustery school night to see Moulin Rouge! at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre for a night of Truth, Beauty, Freedom and Love... Because we Can, Can, Can!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The original Broadway company of Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Photo by Matt Murphy.

Upon entering the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre I was struck by the immense scale of the current World Tour of the Moulin Rouge!, whose set perfectly frames the large Proscenium arch of the Dublin venue, one which many touring productions struggle to achieve. The atmosphere of the pre show was intense, with many Monday night goers looking for a spectacular display. And we got that, and more!

I've been lucky enough to see this movie-turned-musical in London (you can read my very dated review here!) and I was very curious to see how the show transitions to an Irish audience. The show itself sticks strictly to the film plot; an american songwriter travels to Paris to find himself, and falls in love with a performer, but love just seems slightly out of reach. What the musical adds is music, and lots of it. I was standing in the stairwell during the interval and heard a man coming down the stairs telling his partner "Never take me to a jukebox musical again..." Granted, jukebox musicals are not everyone's cup of tea, even eliciting some laughter and groans on our performance, but it really keeps you engaged and entertained throughout.

Danny Burstein as Harold Zidler,from the original Broadway company of Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Photo by Matt Murphy.

And with the chance of singing along to some great pop songs, the cast needs to quickly out-sing the slightly inebriated girls night out, and with this stellar cast, it wasn't difficult. Nate Landskroner steals the show as Christian. He is goofy, dynamic and an incredible vocalist, leaving goosebumps during a well executed Roxanne. Kahlia Davis as Nini is also a standout, with her stunning dance technique and great acting. Alternate Patrice Tipoki, as Satine delivers spectacular vocals throughout with an extremely demanding role. Cameron Blakely as Harold Zigler is a real hoot. Charisma oozes from his performance with a wonderful voice. They are supported by a high energy ensemble, who are vocally strong throughout. The choreography by Sonya Tayeh really explodes in large ensemble numbers, especially the opening of Act II. The lack of ensemble numbers in Act I causes the show to stall slightly, which is thankfully revved up in the second act.

The original Broadway company of Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Photo by Matt Murphy.

Where this show really shines is the production value. The spectacular scenic design by Derek Lane really delivers the wow factor. My favourite element of this show is Justin Townsend's lighting which is slick, powerful and visually stunning.

Overall, Moulin Rouge is one of the hottest tickets in Dublin right now, and I'm not surprised to see why. I would highly recommend seeing it before it closes in January!

Ticket Information for Moulin Rouge! The Musical:

Moulin Rouge! The Musical runs until the 11th of January. Tickets are available here.

Disclaimer: I was invited to see this show in exchange for an honest review. My review was not affected by this.