Thriller, Theatre Royal Bath
A tribute to Michael Jackson’s lifetime contribution to pop music and his sometimes outrageous and eccentric style, Gary Lloyd has put together a wonderful show based on the biggest selling album of all time, Thriller. The show charts Michael’s music career starting as a child star with the Jackson Five through to the peak of his fame and solo performance.
Even if you are not a fan of Michael Jackson (my companion made it clear he was only coming along to indulge me and went away both stunned and impressed) the show is eminently worth watching. From start to finish it is highly professional, the dancers are a bundle of high octane movement fused with gloriously colourful costumes and, of course, you’ll know every song. Revisiting the three decades, the 70s, 80s and 90s complete with appropriate costumes, we were taken back in time through a succession of songs (there are eighteen songs packed into each Act) all marking a time in Michael Jackson’s musical life.
Jovanny Picardo Almonte has obviously spent much time studying Michael Jackson’s dance moves and he looked, sang and danced just like the man himself, particularly in the trademark white suit and spats. The second Act is definitely when the tempo gets cranked up and I particularly enjoyed the numbers Dirty Diana and Smooth Criminal, and of course the finale, Thriller.
The production is excellent, combining a highly sophisticated light show with a perfect sound system, and a great live band who, are for the most part hidden, except for some really amazing guitar solos. They are the lynchpin of the show and I think the saying is they really did rock!
There is some narration in the show but in the long run it benefits from being just a collection of great music performed by a thoroughly professional and energetic cast. Even if you are not a fan of Michael Jackson, you can’t fail to enjoy the show which is a timely tribute to the King of Pop and also highly entertaining.
Jacquie Vowles
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