CurtainUp
The Internet Theater Magazine of Reviews, Features,
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A CurtainUp London Review
Thriller Live
On 22nd January, the audience had many of the past cast members from years back enjoying the show and supporting their friends in the current cast. The atmosphere was electric! Ben Foster was there from the original "four" and Layton Williams, an original young Michael. John Moabi is in the current cast as well as being there ten years ago. Much of what I wrote in 2009 applies still. Thriller is a concert, a tribute to Michael Jackson's songs and his iconic dance moves and, to a lesser extent, his videos. It is not the Michael Jackson story or the tabloid version of the celebrity Michael Jackson. The few historical, biographical slides and pictures shown in 2009 are no longer included. The singing is strong, with four main singers (Vivienne Ekwulugo, Haydon Eshun, John Moabi, David Julien) plus the youngster who plays the young Michael Jackson (Messiah Unsudimi). It is probably Vivienne who sounds most like Michael Jackson, but this is a concert performance not an imitation tribute. Florivaldo Mossi is the lookalike Michael Jackson whose clothes, hats, hair and dance moves recreate what it was like watching the original dances, so much a definitive part of watching Michael Jackson. Ben Foster's "Man in the Mirror" sends your spine tingling although he was a guest on the night. It was again the dance which captivated me: the angular arms and legs of the Egyptian routine and the "how do they do that" of the synchronised slant forward to a whole body angle of 50 degrees from the floor with their feet still on the ground, as well as the Moon dance. The projections of events figure less than I remember, when we could also celebrate Barack Obama's inauguration, but the back of stage imagery is strong with "Earthsong" playing to images of the recent Californian fires. To read my review of this show on its inception go here
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Search CurtainUp in the box below PRODUCTION NOTES Thriller Live Written by Adrian Grant Directed and Choreographed by Gary Lloyd Starring: Vivienne Ekwulugo, Haydn Eshun, David Julien, John Moabi, Florivaldo Mossi Young MJs: Joshua Atoyebi, Triple Calz, Isaiah Mason, Xhanti Mbonzongwana, Jay-Jay Prince, Messiah Unsudimi With: Wayne Anthony-Cole, Sophia Mackay, Jonah Mayor Dancers: Aisling Duffy, Ebony Clarke, Daniel Blessing, Filippo Cuffano, David devyyne, Joel Ekperigin, Eliza Hart, Leona Lawrenson, Mari MacLeod, Oskarina O'Sullivan, Zinzile Tshuma, Matt Vjestica, Vivian Gale, Simone Moncada Musical Supervisor, Director and Arranger: John Maher Set Designer: Jonathan Park Costume: Shooting Flowers Lighting Design: Nigel Catmur Sound Design: Chris Whybrow Video: Colin Rozee Special Effects: The Twins FX Visual Running time: Two hours 25 minutes with an interval Box Office: 0330 333 4812 Booking to 29th September 2019 Reviewed by Lizzie Loveridge based on 22nd January 2018 evening performance at the Nimax Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue London W1D 7ES (Tube: Piccadilly Circus) Index of reviewed shows still running , REVIEW FEEDBACK Highlight one of the responses below and click "copy" or"CTRL+C"
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