From the moment the first beat drops, MJ: The Musical grabs you by the sequined glove and doesn’t let go. This isn’t just a show; it’s a time machine that moonwalks through Michael Jackson’s extraordinary life with such precision, you’ll swear you’ve been transported to the King of Pop’s heyday.
Let’s talk about that young Michael Cristiano Cuino – good grief, what a find! The kid’s got pipes that would make the Jackson 5-era MJ proud, nailing every note with such authenticity that I found myself squinting to check if he was lip-syncing (spoiler alert: he wasn’t – the vocals throughout are genuinely that good). The transitions between young Michael and adult MJ flow as smoothly as one of the man’s signature spins, weaving past and present together like threads in one of his iconic military jackets.
Jamaal Fields-Green brings MJ to life with uncanny precision. His flawless vocals and iconic dance moves are so spot-on you’d swear you’re watching Michael himself, but it’s his ability to show the human behind the legend during rehearsal scenes that truly impresses. He captures Jackson’s voice and mannerisms without falling into caricature, balancing both the perfectionist and the performer with remarkable skill.
Speaking of smooth moves, the choreography is tighter than MJ’s legendary black loafers. There was a moment during “Beat It” where my leg started moving on its own, and I nearly jumped out of my seat to join the ensemble – thankfully, British theater decorum prevailed, but just barely! The dancers hit every mark with military precision, turning the stage into a living, breathing tribute to Jackson’s revolutionary dance style.
The show brilliantly explores MJ’s musical DNA, with delicious nuggets from the Isley Brothers and other influences that shaped his sound. These moments of musical archaeology are pure gold, showing us how the King of Pop built his empire on the shoulders of giants. The production doesn’t just tell us about his inspirations – it shows us, through electrifying dance sequences that trace the evolution of his iconic moves.
In what feels like a magical feat of engineering, the staging transforms the relatively confined space into nine distinct locations, each transition more jaw-dropping than the last. It’s like watching a Rubik’s cube solve itself while doing a moonwalk – technically impressive and impossibly smooth.
The Thriller sequence deserves its own paragraph (and possibly its own zip code). The circus of evil they’ve created is deliciously dark and spine-tingling, capturing the perfect balance between horror-movie creepy and Broadway spectacular. It’s worth the price of admission alone to see how they’ve reimagined this iconic music video for the stage.
Throughout the show, tears of joy were flowing as freely as Michael’s signature moves. It’s a masterclass in storytelling that doesn’t just celebrate the music but delves deep into the man behind it. From his Motown roots to global superstardom, every chapter of MJ’s journey is handled with care and presented with spectacular showmanship.
The production manages to do what seemed impossible: it captures the essence of Michael Jackson’s larger-than-life persona and incomparable talent while still feeling intimately personal. It’s a reminder of why we fell in love with his music in the first place, and proves that even in a confined space, true artistry knows no bounds.
If you’re wondering whether to see this show, don’t even think twice. Just beat it down to the box office – your feet won’t forgive you if you miss it.
