A bright red heart frames the stage and props up expectations for Moulin Rouge! The Musical at the Orpheum Theatre—the symbol of love and a constant motif throughout the show. The self-proclaimed “story of love” begins at the famed Moulin Rouge, a cabaret theater in Paris, France, where the charismatic Harold Zidler (Robert Petkoff) leads his scantily-clad “creatures of the Underworld” who dazzle club-goers with high kicks and tight spins. The avant garde costumes and fast-paced, catchy music of the opening sets the tone for the show, establishing the Moulin Rouge as a burlesque with a delightfully sinful reputation. Based on the 2001 film Moulin Rouge, directed by Baz Luhrmann, this new musical incorporates popular American music into the 19th century French setting to create a kaleidoscopic story of love and jealousy.
The Rouge’s “Sparkling Diamond,” Satine (Gabrielle McClinton), unfortunately fails to live up to her long-anticipated introduction. While Christian Douglas’ (Christian) innocent, boyish charm perfectly fit his character, McClinton was clearly cast for her physical beauty rather than vocal or performing talent. The true sparkling diamonds in this particular performance were the members of the ensemble and the Bohemians Santiago (Danny Burgos) and Toulouse-Lautrec (Nick Rashad Burroughs). The Moulin Rouge dancers outshone the leading lady, whose vocal abilities and dancing were sub-par and who seemed to struggle through the performance.
The musical book was well put-together, though those who are not fans of modern pop music will likely not enjoy the quick mash-ups of popular contemporary songs. The show boasts “mashups, remixes, and reinventions of over 70 songs.” That number, while impressive from a logistical standpoint, attempts to pack in too much into too little space, creating an atmosphere that feels messy and a bit claustrophobic. While the orchestra did a phenomenal job of performing these numbers, the lack of original music made the score boring. This excess also lends itself to a certain amount of confusion for the audience, as dialogue and story building were lacking in favor of multiple on-stage dance parties.
Overall, the performance was a fun experience and made the audience dance in their chairs, wanting to join the corseted “diamond dogs” in the spectacle. However, with McClinton at the helm, it is not worth returning for a few moments of true entertainment.
