Moulin Rouge!
- Caroline Russell-King
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Postcard Review by Caroline Russell-King
Show – Moulin Rouge!
Playwright/s/Composer/s – Book by John Logan, based on the movie written by Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pearce.
Production Company/Theatre space – Carmen Pavlovic, Gerry Ryan, Bill Damaschke, Aaron Lustbader, Hunter Arnold, Darren Bagert, Adam Blanshay Productions/Nicolas & Charles Talar, Iris Smith, Aleri Entertainment, Sophie Qi/Harmonia Holdings, CJ ENM, Len Blavatnik, Ambassador Theatre Group, Endeavor Content, John Gore Organization, Spencer Ross, Gilad-Rogowsky/Instone Productions, AF Creative Media/International Theatre Fund, Nederlander Presentations/IPN, Cody Renard Richard, Jujamcyn Theaters, Eric Falkenstein/Suzanne Grant, Peter May/Sandy Robertson, Tom and Pam Faludy, Triptyk Studioss, Carl Daikeler/Sandi Moran, Desantis-Baugh Productions, Red Mountain Theatre Company/42nd Club, Candy Spelling/Tulchin Bartner, Roy Furman, Andrew & Ruby Ryan, Brent & Sarah Deboer, Michael Ryan and Global Creatures; Broadway Across Canada, The John Ware Organization / Jubilee Auditorium.
Length – 2 Act (1 hour 20 minutes, one intermission.)
Genre– Jukebox Musical
Premise – An American songwriter in Paris falls in love with a cabaret performer who has prostituted herself with the Duke to produce a show to keep the Moulin Rouge in business.
Why this play? Why now? – This is a name recognition show that champions the proletariat (over the bourgeoisie), theatre makers, and love.
Curiosities – Are the audience aware that instead of one French producer to keep the doors open this show took 41 production companies and individual producers to bring this show to Calgary?
Notable Moment – The red set and pulsating lights that set the scene for the lusty, lively, love story that greets the audience upon arrival.
Notable writing – This is one of the rare times where the live musical is better than the movie. La Traviata meets love triangle, meets the “I want to get my musical produced” trope, mixed with hit pop and rock songs from the 20th century (artists whose credits would turn this postcard review into a telephone book).
Notable performances – The caliber of the singers and dancers is world class. Leads Gabriela Carrillo and Ryan Vasquez are spectacular as the transatlantic star-crossed lovers. Kevyn Morrow (Toulouse Lautrec), Bobby Daye (Harold Zidler) and Andrew Brewer (the Duke) are also first class in this cast of 37 who give Broadway performances.
Notable design/Production – Costume Designer Catherine Zuber’s work is a festival of sequins in a riot of colour. Justin Townsend’s lighting design is (pardon the pun) brilliant. Scenic Designer Derek McLane meets the challenge of giving us multiple movie locations on the stage.
Notable direction – Director Alex Timbers and Choreographer Sonya Tayeh get gold stars for this red show.
One reason to see this show – C’est magnifique.
Comments