REVIEW
Thriller Live
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea
4th-9th June 2018
Thriller Live
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea
4th-9th June 2018
✭✭✭✭☆ 4/5
Don't stop til you get enough - Thriller Live has the Cliffs Pavilion audience 'shaking their bodies down to the ground'!
It barely seems possible that almost ten years has passed since the untimely death of Michael Jackson. If ever there were a testament to how popular the musical legend and his music was and still is, then the opening night audience of the Thriller Live tour at Southend's Cliffs Pavilion were out in force to make a pretty solid case.
If you're expecting a jukebox musical - this isn't it - thank goodness! Thriller Live is ultimately an all singing, dancing, glitz and glamour tribute to Michael Jackson and the wonderful songs that gave him the 'King of Pop' title. And....wait for it, there are a whopping 37 of them included in this production. Six leading cast members take turns to sing some of the most popular songs that turned Jackson into such a huge musical phenomenon with the likes of ‘Human Nature’, ‘Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough’, ‘I Just Can’t Stop Loving You’, ‘Smooth Criminal’, ‘Man In The Mirror’, ‘Billie Jean’, and ‘Black or White’ all featured, and it reminds you exactly why he became one of the world’s greatest entertainers of all time.
If you're expecting a jukebox musical - this isn't it - thank goodness! Thriller Live is ultimately an all singing, dancing, glitz and glamour tribute to Michael Jackson and the wonderful songs that gave him the 'King of Pop' title. And....wait for it, there are a whopping 37 of them included in this production. Six leading cast members take turns to sing some of the most popular songs that turned Jackson into such a huge musical phenomenon with the likes of ‘Human Nature’, ‘Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough’, ‘I Just Can’t Stop Loving You’, ‘Smooth Criminal’, ‘Man In The Mirror’, ‘Billie Jean’, and ‘Black or White’ all featured, and it reminds you exactly why he became one of the world’s greatest entertainers of all time.
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Lead vocalist and Resident director, Britt Quentin, as well as getting to wear some of the iconic costumes that Jackson made his own, also really looks and sounds like the King of Pop too. Shaquille Hemmans, Rory Taylor (remember him from Superstar?), Adriana Louise, Ina Seidon and Eddy Lima also share lead vocals with Britt and show off some pretty nifty dancing skills too, and also from Eddy Lima who almost brings the house down with his moves and not least with that iconic 'lean' in the 'Smooth Criminal' number. Every one of these vocalists is outstanding and highlights for me included 'Human Nature', 'She's Out of My Life', 'Beat It', 'Smooth Criminal' and 'Beat It'. 'Earth Song', one of my favourites from Jackson's later albums, HIStory, still manages to have so much relevance and resonance even now.
Anyone familiar with Michael Jackson will know what a stickler for perfection he was and Thriller Live's director and choreographer, Gary Lloyd, has done an outstanding job with the immensely talented dancers in this production. They faultlessly dance their way through each song with the most incredible amount of energy and passion and each and every one of them gives it one hundred percent, almost bringing the house down in the ‘Smooth Criminal’ number. |
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Of course the production, cast and dancers wouldn’t be complete without the support of a band behind them and in this show the band is, quite literally, behind them! Sadly hidden behind a screen for most of the show, however, they are superbly led by Musical Director, Andy Jeffcoat and with guitarist, Allan Salmon, thankfully getting to break out and join the cast to give us that famous 'Billie Jean' guitar break solo These guys produce the most incredible sound and simply have to be one of the best live bands on the musical theatre touring circuit right now.
Thriller Live ultimately takes you through the decades of Jackson’s monumental musical career, celebrating and focusing on his glory days, rather than those well documented sadder times before his untimely death. It also gives us all the opportunity to appreciate what a true musical legend he was with literally one song after another and it was great to see an audience filled with all age ranges, with children to pensioners all up on their feet dancing at the end of the night. With Thriller Live you really won’t want ‘to stop ’til you get enough!'
Thriller Live ultimately takes you through the decades of Jackson’s monumental musical career, celebrating and focusing on his glory days, rather than those well documented sadder times before his untimely death. It also gives us all the opportunity to appreciate what a true musical legend he was with literally one song after another and it was great to see an audience filled with all age ranges, with children to pensioners all up on their feet dancing at the end of the night. With Thriller Live you really won’t want ‘to stop ’til you get enough!'
Tickets available online at www.southendtheatres.org.uk or call the box office on 01702 351135
