Prince Edward Theatre
Old Compton Street, Soho, London W1D 4HS 0344 482 5151
- Synopsis
- Theatremonkey show opinion
- Reader reviews
- Performance schedule
- Ticket prices
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The "Dangerous" World Tour 1992. Michael Jackson at the height of his creativity and fame. This show goes behind the scenes to discover a little about how this famous entertainment mind worked.
A Broadway hit created by Lynn Nottage and Christopher Wheeldon comes to the West End.
(seen at the afternoon performance on 8th August 2024). Some actors have now left the cast.
To establish a baseline, the monkey was never bothered that it didn’t see Michael Jackson live in 1988 when it had the opportunity. Sure, it admires “Thriller” as an outstanding pop video of all-time (it also admired a boy at school who bought it on VHS from Woolworths and tripled his investment renting it out). It also likes some of the Jackson family back catalogue because, well, who doesn’t. But, honestly MJ, it could take or leave.
In this spirit, it feels it can take an objective view of this show. Objectively, then, it felt that the first half is really pretty damn good. 1992 tour rehearsals, observed by a wily journalist Rachel (Philippa Stefani in compellingly gruesome seductive deception mode) and her cameraman.
Talking to MJ (Tavio Wright at this performance) many intelligent, often moving, flashbacks to his early home and performing life may not reveal anything we didn’t know - but are intelligent and interesting. A duet of “I’ll Be There” between young son and mother a particular high point.
Writer Lynn Nottage intersperses credible rehearsal scenes with these. By allowing Christopher Wheeldon to both direct and choreograph, past and present melt effortlessly into each other, aided by actors doubling characters in the tale. One shrug of a jacket and a father becomes a producer mid-conversation.
The concept is very fine and by the end of the first half the monkey felt it was viewing a highly superior biographical jukebox musical.
Inexplicably, the second half abandons the informative, investigative structure for the most part and the show loses it shape. Lengthy performance interludes delight fans but leave those enjoying learning more about his life somewhat confused.
A well-staged “Thriller” routine is a false ending; the inexplicably crassly mounted coda which dissipates emotion at a single revolve should probably have happened before it. Trimming 10 minutes off the running time and leaving us on a high with the most famous dance sequence as a finale seems preferable.
As it stands we do not get catharsis, and those who are unfamiliar with the story are left wondering about the much pushed legal impact of the loan-notes signed as well as why a simple explanation of what actually happened was left out.
This is well mounted technically. Derek McLane’s set design is as versatile as the performers, as economical as Jackson was flamboyant. Natasha Katz intrigued the monkey by lowering in a whole bank of lights just offstage in the wings for one scene. Not something it had seen before but an effective use of space and a lovely technique.
Sadly, Gareth Owen’s sound design defeated the lyric at times, failing to balance vocal and music demands so that words were lost to the front stalls corner. Not an issue for fans who knew every word, a problem for those of us who did not.
Still, the main point is that the show reflects the philosophy of its subject. Give the audience the best you can, remember that the music is above all, and in life nothing is going to help you when the beast does come out to bite.
For MJ fans, you can’t beat it as a night out. For non-fans, it’s as slick as anything in the West End and a good “date night” choice for those seeking a less heavy but well-executed show.
MJ Musical
Brilliant and superb, I could go on, I thoroughly enjoyed this musical. The performance was amazing, dancing incredible and the music? Well it's Michael Jackson so as expected all fantastic.
The standing ovation was well deserved, the dancers must have been exhausted (an untrained dancer's observation). T
he sets were beautiful and seemed to magically appear, very cleverly done.
Best thing I have seen since 'Book of Mormon' (and I have seen that 5 times!)
Legacy reader reviews
Dress Circle Slips Box 2 seat 3: Had to lean on padded rail to see sometimes. Good legroom. Decent view for the money. Seat 4 is best view.
Dress Circle Slips Box 1 seat 4: Had to lean on padded rail to see sometimes. Good legroom. Decent view for the money. For MJ it would be better to sit on opposite side of the theatre. Seat 4 is best view.
Broadway John.
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Thursday 23rd May 2024, Matinee.
Stalls U26-29: very clear view of whole stage but not not much of a rake so if you are short behind a tall person this could be an issue.
Saw "Thriller Live" 10+ years ago and was looking forward to this show. Enjoyed it - but wasn't wowed. Performances were good, but it's all set in a rehearsal studio for the 'Dangerous' tour, with some flashbacks to MJ's childhood and his time performing with his brothers.
Thought the Fosse dance scene dragged.
Would have liked less rehearsal story and more concert performance scenes, as the "Thriller" performance towards the end was incredible - so seemed a shame to waste the dancers just doing 'warm ups' in the background during the story scenes.
The security staff doing security bag checks were very welcoming and friendly at this theatre - at previous theatres I have found them quite abrupt, so special mention to them.
Highly recommend for food close by 'Old Compton Brasserie,' for their £15 lunch deal including a beer/wine/soft drink.
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This has been a long booked trip to London this weekend to see MJ. My interest was piqued as it was set with the Dangerous Tour, this was the first stadium concert I ever went to and have great memories of being down near the front at Cardiff Arms Park; Jacko and his show blew me away.
So we shall get past the obvious pedantry that rehearsals for the tour had a large group of dancers (in reality 4 shared the stage with him, all men) and a large group of backing singers, again in reality only 4. The Billie Jean sequence with the suitcase was a direct lift from the History Tour. Also that many of the songs he “rehearsed” for the show were never on the set list or at times not written at the time in question. But that would have made a very dull show indeed so once I got past that I started to enjoy myself. Setting the show in 1992 conveniently allows the writers to avoid dealing with any of the major controversies; setting the show around the development of This Is It might have made for a more interesting book but less of a Jacko Love-In.
So taken less as a narrative and more of a Jackson tribute show I thought this was terrific. The cast were on great form and in the song and dance routines it felt like you were watching the real thing. It almost made me grateful that the This Is It shows didn’t happen. (Obviously not for the reasons why). Jacko in 2010 couldn’t have done all the moves we saw in this show - the 1992 version could. So whilst it would have no doubt been spectacular, sometimes it’s best to remember legends as they were in their prime.
A couple of missed tricks: although we got a snippet of the original thriller choreography in act 1, the lavish staging of the song in act 2 cried out for this. Also one of the wow moments in the tour was recreating the 45 degree lean in smooth criminal. I was expecting this to happen but the music conveniently side stepped this moment. But taken as a nostalgia trip for Michael Jackson fans, this was top notch. I didn’t learn anything new about the man, but it served as a terrific tribute to his life and music. Highly recommended if you are a Michael Jackson fan.
We sat in Loge 3. A great view and safely away from any bad behaviour and singalongs! Ideal for this show. On booking it came at a non premium price unlike the two loges behind.
The monkey advises checking performance times on your tickets and that performances are happening as scheduled, before travelling.
Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm
Thursday and Saturday at 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Runs 2 hours 30 minutes approximately.
WHERE TO BUY TICKETS / "BUY OR AVOID" SEAT GUIDE
Theatres use "dynamic pricing." Seat prices change according to demand for a particular performance. Prices below were compiled as booking originally opened. Current prices are advised at time of enquiry.
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WEEKLY LOTTERY: £30 tickets are available to win via app Todaytix at www.todaytix.com/london/shows/28638-mj-the-musical. Entries open at 0.01am on Thursday and close at 1pm on the following Wednesday each week. Winners are contacted by push notification from 1pm onwards, and have 30 minutes to accept their tickets. Maximum 2 tickets per winner. Tickets could be in any section of the auditorium.
