MJ The Musical

Prince Edward Theatre

This impressive musical brings Michael Jackson back into people's lives. The musical uses his songs to piece together his life and highlights how hard he worked to become music royalty.

MJ the musical is one of many jukebox musicals. But this one stands out and goes deeper than the surface. Michael Jackson was a man who lived in so many people's hearts, and people would move mountains for the opportunity to see him perform. Back then, you couldn't just watch his concerts at the ease of a click of a button. His passing was a tragic, memorable day, and I remember how upset my mum was. Just like so many, she loved him and his music that changed the music industry massively. He was the king of pop music, and it's incredible how the show brings him back for a couple of hours and reminds you of the journey he made to make a change, not only in music, but for the world as well. Jamaal Fields-Green perfectly steps into MJ's shoes and embodies not only MJ himself, but what he represents and what a performance he gives. It's incredible how he makes the audience feel like they get the chance to finally see MJ perform, and using the songs to make the musical is divine; they are huge numbers.

I saw this musical last year, and I clearly did not see the show's potential. My opinion and level of appreciation for all creative areas have changed vastly. I didn't understand what this show could mean to people. I remember thinking that it's just a show for people to listen to his music and go to a musical where they know the songs. It's so much more than that; not only is it about MJ, it's about living in the public eye since you were a child and how far he would go for charity. It reminds the audience of the importance of charity and caring for the environment. So many messages that open your eyes and appreciate him more. The role of MJ himself and how difficult it is to embody an actual person that people know well, and if you do one thing that isn't quite right, how the audience will pick it up. The research and craft that have gone into bringing this life and making it accurate are something truly special. You can see how special it is when you look around the room, listen to the conversations, and see people's faces.

Playing MJ is not easy. Jamaal Fields-Green deserves immense appreciation for his performance of MJ, as it is evident how closely he has studied him, and his attention to detail in terms of voice, movement, and mannerisms, making the audience believe they are watching the king of pop music. The energy is off the scale! He is a true triple threat, and his performance of the songs made you feel like you were at a concert. The power of his voice is incredible. The roar of the audience clearly shows that he did a fantastic job. Matt Mills plays a couple of significant roles and seamlessly transitions between them. He plays MJ's dad, Joseph Jackson and Rob, who is helping to organise the tour that they are preparing for in the show. He morphs between the two on stage, and it is intriguing, as it shows how Michael is always controlled by his dad and reminded, even when he isn't there, almost like figures that resemble and remind him of his dad seem to end up in his life. The whole cast is incredible and does the absolute most!

The experience feels like you're going through a journey of MJ's life, and the set takes you from the rehearsal studio to the stage. It's incredible how they recreate the iconic opening of the Dangerous Tour and moments from his career. Going from scene to scene is seamless, and the set and lighting enhance the experience. Some moments do feel irrelevant, and the camera crew that is documenting the tour prep feels a bit too much at times, and how they dig for his story feels as though the element of him always being in the public eye is too overdone. Having cameras just around him shows that enough, it just forces the life story out, when the flashbacks from reminders are enough. When you are sitting in the audience and surrounded by the intensity of the music, you feel immersed in the story, especially the moment when the fans are screaming at him, and it shows how overwhelming being him is. It's gutting to think about.

It's no wonder they won the Olivier for best choreographer; the dance in the show is utterly fantastic! Each member of the ensemble does not miss a beat, and the sequences are energetic, intensify the music and blow the audience away. It's a great show to make you think and step into the shoes of MJ. It makes you appreciate the work he did and how he got to where he was. If you love MJ you will absolutely adore this show, and there is something for everyone. It's an incredible quality musical and stands out from the crowd. Sitting in stalls changed my experience, as I did not have any of the stage obstructed from my view, and I found I appreciated the show a lot more than I did the first time. It is an epic experience that should be shared, and it takes you back in time! I so badly want to take my mum to see this one. Just so you know.. Thriller is an INCREDIBLE number, and the whole cast left no crumbs.