The Bodyguard The Musical
The Cliffs Pavilion - 15th - 26th September 2015
The Cliffs Pavilion - 15th - 26th September 2015
The Bodyguard Musical is touring the UK after a successful West End run and Zoe Birkett leads this two week Southend run as if she were born for the part of Rachel Marron.
Bursting on to the stage with the energetic “Queen of the Night” number you realise instantly that Zoe has this role completely under control. Her characterisation is spot on in a part that takes on a rollercoaster of emotions and with a voice that has the power to give goosebumps in one moment and have you up on your feet dancing the next.
The Bodyguard tells the story of diva, Rachel Marron, a successful American singing sensation, who finds herself in the fearful situation of realising that she has a stalker. The experienced Frank Farmer, played by the extremely handsome Stuart Reid, is brought in by Rachel's people to protect her and her family; her son, Fletcher, played beautifully by Seito Smith and her sister Nicki, played on the night I was there by the understudy, Lydia Fraser.
Things don’t start off well for the singer and the bodyguard but, after a night out together in a Karaoke bar, things start to hot up between the two and romance ensues. With Nicki, the sister that never quite had it, also falling for Frank, the sibling rivalry that has always been underlying between the sisters comes to the fore, giving Lydia Fraser some wonderful moments to shine. I especially enjoyed “Run to You”.
This show rolls along much like the 1992 Houston and Costner film version although there are some more up to date references now, including a witty nod to Gordon Ramsey in one scene. A few more witty moments would have been nice in a somewhat serious play; the audience were in stitches in the Karaoke scene with laugh out loud moments from Frank’s rendition of “I Will Always Love You”.
Thanks to Mark Henderson’s fabulous lighting and Richard Brooker’s sound design, the atmospherics of this production really help to produce some real tension within the scenes. There is one scene in particular that really delivers where Rachel insists on singing at a club and the stalker finds out, which really sends tingles up the spine! The use of video was also put to good effect and the set design was impressive and cleverly creative.
Ultimately, this show no matter how good the storyline may be, is about the music and songs of Whitney Houston - there are 16 of her hits in this production. Zoe Birkett carried the show with every rendition. By the time the closing number, “I Will Always Love You” came to an end, I don’t think that one member of the audience was left in their seat and the standing ovation at the end really said it all.
If you love the songs of Whitney Houston and enjoy a bit of drama and suspense thrown in for good measure, get yourself to The Cliffs Pavilion in the next couple of weeks. You won’t be disappointed.
Bursting on to the stage with the energetic “Queen of the Night” number you realise instantly that Zoe has this role completely under control. Her characterisation is spot on in a part that takes on a rollercoaster of emotions and with a voice that has the power to give goosebumps in one moment and have you up on your feet dancing the next.
The Bodyguard tells the story of diva, Rachel Marron, a successful American singing sensation, who finds herself in the fearful situation of realising that she has a stalker. The experienced Frank Farmer, played by the extremely handsome Stuart Reid, is brought in by Rachel's people to protect her and her family; her son, Fletcher, played beautifully by Seito Smith and her sister Nicki, played on the night I was there by the understudy, Lydia Fraser.
Things don’t start off well for the singer and the bodyguard but, after a night out together in a Karaoke bar, things start to hot up between the two and romance ensues. With Nicki, the sister that never quite had it, also falling for Frank, the sibling rivalry that has always been underlying between the sisters comes to the fore, giving Lydia Fraser some wonderful moments to shine. I especially enjoyed “Run to You”.
This show rolls along much like the 1992 Houston and Costner film version although there are some more up to date references now, including a witty nod to Gordon Ramsey in one scene. A few more witty moments would have been nice in a somewhat serious play; the audience were in stitches in the Karaoke scene with laugh out loud moments from Frank’s rendition of “I Will Always Love You”.
Thanks to Mark Henderson’s fabulous lighting and Richard Brooker’s sound design, the atmospherics of this production really help to produce some real tension within the scenes. There is one scene in particular that really delivers where Rachel insists on singing at a club and the stalker finds out, which really sends tingles up the spine! The use of video was also put to good effect and the set design was impressive and cleverly creative.
Ultimately, this show no matter how good the storyline may be, is about the music and songs of Whitney Houston - there are 16 of her hits in this production. Zoe Birkett carried the show with every rendition. By the time the closing number, “I Will Always Love You” came to an end, I don’t think that one member of the audience was left in their seat and the standing ovation at the end really said it all.
If you love the songs of Whitney Houston and enjoy a bit of drama and suspense thrown in for good measure, get yourself to The Cliffs Pavilion in the next couple of weeks. You won’t be disappointed.
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What the audience thought
Pat, South Woodham Ferrers “Rachel (Zoe) and Nicki (Lydia) really stood out for me. The dancing was great. I’ve seen it in the West End and I actually preferred it here. I really believed it, I was sobbing at the end!” |
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Twink, Leigh on Sea
“Absolutely brilliant. It’s just as good as the West End. Zoe was brilliant - her voice is just mesmerising.”
“Absolutely brilliant. It’s just as good as the West End. Zoe was brilliant - her voice is just mesmerising.”
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Jos, Southend on Sea
I really love Whitney Houston and I really think that Zoe did it justice, in fact I think she held the whole show together. I really liked the sister (Nicki) she was very good.” |
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