By Kat Mokrynski

Moulin Rouge! The Musical is the stage adaptation of Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 film, Moulin Rouge. The show follows a composer from Ohio, Christian (Jamie Muscato), who travels to Paris for inspiration and falls in love with Satine, the “Sparkling Diamond” of the Moulin Rouge nightclub. Just like the movie it is adapting, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is an extravaganza, drawing audiences into the world of 19th-century Paris. 

Jamie Muscato stars as Christian, playing the young American with a naivety and enthusiasm that breathes new life into the character. I was always confused by the choices of other actors playing Christian to be suave and charming so was quite pleased to see Muscato acting exactly how you’d expect a young man to if he stumbled into the Moulin Rouge and caught the eye of the main act. Muscato’s singing is absolutely incredible and establishes his reputation as one of the best singers on the West End. 

Vanessa Ela Young was on as an alternate for Satine and was absolutely stunning. She is truly a triple threat in singing, dancing, and acting, wowing the audience with her skills and charming them as the performer with a tough exterior and broken heart. As someone who tends to skip “Firework” and the slower songs when listening to the cast album, I found myself enchanted by Young’s version of the song, really feeling for Satine in a way I had not with other actors taking on the role. 

Ben Richards is insanely charming as The Duke, able to have the audience falling for him even though he is immediately established as the villain in his first song, “Sympathy for the Duke.” I even found myself nodding along in agreement at some of his lines throughout the show, easily swayed by the effortless way he strutted across the stage and promised a life of wealth to Satine. In a type of foil to The Duke, Matt Rixon is a fun Harold Zidler, a man struggling to keep his business afloat while also attempting to protect those who work for him. I loved seeing how he interacted with Satine, like an old friend doomed to share the same fate as him. There are some moments in which Zidler seems to change character and go against his belief in the Moulin Rouge, but Rixon plays them well. 

Ian Carlyle plays a heartbroken yet hopeful, Toulouse-Lautrec, a man acknowledging that his love will never feel the same way, accepting her feelings and looking out for her anyway. I enjoyed witnessing his revolutionary spirit and his little interjections of humour in difficult situations and the way he is able to pass on his wisdom to Christian. It was a pleasure to see Taofique Folarin’s debut as Santiago, his 2nd cover role! You would never have guessed that this was Folarin’s debut – His performance made it seem like he had been in the role forever, effortlessly blending in with the bohemians of Paris. His chemistry with Nini is off the charts, especially at the beginning of “Backstage Romance.” 

The highlight of Moulin Rouge! The Musical is its dancing, excellently choreographed by Sonya Tayeh and perfectly executed by the ensemble of the show. “Backstage Romance,” the opening number of Act 2, is truly a highlight (if not the highlight) of the show thanks to a perfect mix of songs (“Bad Romance,” “Tainted Love,” and “Toxic,” to name a few), intense choreography (Christian quite literally gets thrown across the stage), and beautiful singing (I could listen to Folarin as Santiago for days!). Moulin Rouge! The Musical is at its best in its flashy ensemble numbers – The more actors in Catherine Zuber’s costumes on stage, the better! Justin Levine has done a brilliant job in arranging over 70 songs into the production in a way that does not feel too forced and does a nice job of toeing the line between sweet and cheesy. 

Unfortunately, while Moulin Rouge! The Musical shines with its music and dancing, it falls flat in its book. John Logan brings the story from the screen to the stage in a way that the characters feel a bit underdeveloped. Heartfelt moments between characters do not feel earned as we have not seen their relationships grow during their time on stage. Also, while I adore the opening set, some of Derek McLane’s scenic work is a bit bland in contrast to the world of Moulin Rouge!, especially during scenes on the Champs-Elysées. 

Ultimately, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a delightful and enchanting show that will leave audiences dancing (and possibly crying!). The current cast is wonderful and brings new things to the production that make it unique. If you’re a fan of the movie, you’ll love the new additions made in the stage production. 

Moulin Rouge! The Musical is running at the Piccadilly Theatre with a runtime of approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, including one interval. Age guidance for the show is 12+ as the show goes into “mature subject matters.” Tickets can be purchased here.