Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Book by John Logan
Based on the 2001 Twentieth Century Studios Motion Picture written by Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pearce, Directed by Baz Luhrmann
Directed by Alex Timbers
Choreographed by Sonya Tayeh
The Fox Theatre
May 1, 2024
Robert Petkoff and Cast
Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade
Moulin Rouge! The Musical US Tour
“Truth! Beauty! Freedom! Love!” The newest touring production onstage at the Fox, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, has all that and more, throwing everything it can onstage in terms of music, style, production values, intense emotions, and a seemingly endless list of pop music hits. Even though it’s not quite as dazzling as Broadway simply due to the limitations of touring, this show pulls out all the stops with impressive flair. The great cast is also a major selling point.
The show, based on Baz Luhrmann’s buzzy 2001 hit film, follows the same basic plot as the film but throws in a lot more music, including many songs that have become hits since the movie first came out. Pop hits from the 20th and 21st centuries along with some notable opera themes highlight this story set in late 19th Century Paris and centered around a group of ambitious artists and performers as the fabled Moulin Rouge venue. The love story of aspiring songwriter Christian (Christian Douglas) and Moulin Rouge headliner Satine (Gabrielle McClinton) features humor, romance, melodrama, tragedy, and a heavy dose of idealism. It’s also a celebration of the performing arts and art in general, with Christian and his compatriots Toulouse-Lautrec (Nick Rashad Burroughs) and Santiago (Danny Burgos), along with the performers at the club and emcee Harold Zidler (Robert Petkoff) rehearsing a new show and struggling to keep the venue alive. Of course, there’s also the villain, the self-centered and possessive Duke of Monroth (Andrew Brewer), who insists on controlling the club–and Satine–for his own interests.
Even though there is a plot, that’s not what drives this show ultimately. It’s all about spectacle, the chemistry of the performers, and all those songs performed with appropriate intensity and over-the-top style. The cast is great, for the most part, led by the charmingly optimistic Douglas as Christian, whose strong vocals and likable stage presence hold attention–along with McClinton in an excellent turn as the talented and tragic Satine. These two light up the stage with their chemistry. Petkoff as Zidler is also impressive, as is Burroughs as a particularly sympathetic Toulouse-Lautrec, and Burgos as the humorously bold Santiago. Sarah Bowden also stands out, making the most of a smaller role as Nini, one of the club’s more prominent performers. Brewer makes the most of his role as Duke even though the character doesn’t have much in the way of depth. There’s also a fantastic ensemble of singers and dancers backing up the leads, filling out the spectacular production numbers and adding appropriate pizzazz to Sonya Tayeh’s sparkling choreography.
Physically, the show looks great as well, if not quite as grand as it did on Broadway when the set was built into the theatre for a more immersive experience. This is a tour, though, so that immersion factor is a bit limited, although Derek McLane’s flashy, stylish set fits in well at the Fox and matches the overall style of the theatre. The costumes are also superb, designed by Catherine Zuber to fit in with the fashions of the era with a bold range of colors and textures. There’s also dazzling lighting by Justin Townsend and impressive sound by Peter Hylenski, as well as an excellent orchestra led by music director Andrew Graham. The look, atmosphere, and overall vibe of the show echoes the film, but doesn’t exactly copy it, and that works well considering the transition to a theatrical setting.
If you saw the movie, you will definitely notice changes, especially in terms of the music. Although prominent songs such a “Your Song”, “Nature Boy”, and the original (for the film) “Come What May” are still prominently featured, there are many new hits added to the mix, some of which are more heavily features with some showing up for only a few lines. The music and overall style of this show are the stars here, with the strong cast giving their all and providing for a deliciously over-the-top experience at the theatre.
Christian Douglas, Gabrielle McClinton
Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade
Moulin Rouge! The Musical US Tour
The US tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical is running at the Fox Theatre until May 12, 2024