At the risk of alienating my fellow theater lovers, I must admit that I’m just not a fan of Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 film Moulin Rouge! I know, I know. All the juicy ingredients are there — from the tragic love story to the striking visuals and clever musical pastiche. But somehow, I simply didn’t connect with it.
So why is it that I am so thoroughly enthralled by the touring production of Moulin Rouge! The Musical that’s currently playing at TPAC’s Jackson Hall? After all, the stage version remains fairly true to the film’s original storyline, following a young writer named Christian who falls for the radiant Satine — star performer at the Moulin Rouge. But John Logan’s book fleshes out the characters just a bit, giving Satine more of an independent streak, and making the villainous Duke of Monroth feel more fully developed. (It’s also worth noting that he wisely does away with the film’s more problematic Bollywood elements.) And without Luhrmann’s frenetic cuts and often-fragmented editing style, the story has more room to breathe.
Diehard fans can rest assured that there are still plenty of poppy medleys and musical mashups to enjoy. In fact, Moulin Rouge! The Musical draws from an even wider selection of songs, including familiar hits from Adele, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Gnarls Barkley, The White Stripes and more. More importantly, music supervisor and co-orchestrator Justin Levine has ensured that the songs actually serve the story, moving things forward with great wit and emotion. Director Alex Timbers also pulls off the rather remarkable task of capturing the film’s giddy romance and campy energy, without allowing things to become so heavy-handed and pretentious.
Of course, it doesn’t hurt that this tour also features some first-class performances. Christian Douglas is exceptionally strong as Christian, balancing boyish charm with commanding vocals. His spirited salute to “Bohemian Ideas” is pure joy, but it’s his tortured take on “El Tango de Roxanne” that really breaks our hearts. As Satine, Arianna Rosario is generally solid, but her performance feels more tentative at times, particularly in “The Sparkling Diamond.” But she manages to cut loose in Act I’s “Firework,” and together with Douglas, delivers big numbers such as “Your Song” and “Elephant Love Medley.”
Robert Petkoff is perfectly cast as the club’s cheeky owner and emcee Harold Zidler, leading the opening “Welcome to the Moulin Rouge!” with panache, and serving up an absinthe-soaked “Chandelier.” Nick Rashad Burroughs is another standout, infusing the role of Toulouse-Lautrec with tremendous heart. Danny Burgos and AK Naderer also succeed as the hot-blooded Santiago and Nini, providing a memorable “Backstage Romance” — and making the most of Sonya Tayeh’s stunning choreography. Understudy Amar Atkins (who stepped in to play the dastardly Duke at the performance we saw) offers a menacing “Sympathy for the Duke.” But some of the evening’s best moments come courtesy of the wildly talented ensemble — an incredible group of triple-threat artists who add depth and passion to every scene.
Derek McLane’s lavish scenery takes us from the gritty streets of Montmartre to the glamorous Champs-Élysées, with Justin Townsend’s artful lighting adding yet another layer to the overall look. And Catherine Zuber’s exquisitely detailed costumes are like miniature works of art, boasting an abundance of velvet and satin, with beads, feathers and crystals galore.
It’s no wonder that this dazzling musical earned 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Fun, festive and full of spectacle, Moulin Rouge! The Musical feels like a true celebration of life, love and Bohemian ideals. Catch it while you can-can-can!
