“Moulin Rouge! The Musical” – Book by John Logan, based on the 2001 movie written by Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pearce. Directed by Alex Timbers. Set Design by Derek McLane. Choreography by Sonya Tayeh. Costumes by Catherine Zuber. Lighting by Justin Townsend. Sound Design by Peter Hylenski. Produced by Global Creatures and presented by the Ambassador Theatre Group at the 106 Boylston St., Boston through Aug. 19.
by Susan Daniels
Glamorous and gritty, “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” put the spectacular in this spectacle of a show that wows the very audible fans throughout this sensory adventure. At a reported $30 million budget, the Ambassador Theatre Group hit a cornucopia of visual, visceral, and aural stripes with their pre-Broadway production that also debuted in a gorgeously gilded, renovated, and re-opened Emerson Colonial Theatre . . . perhaps the principal star of the evening.
Vying for equal status, the high energy and {at times} erotic production numbers, the eye popping costumes where, at times, sexily clad women are popping out of their bustiers, and the impressive set – a series of pink hearts bordering the proscenium, with a giant blue elephant ensconced over house right and a gleaming red windmill spinning on the opposite side – are over the top fun and kitschy, setting the theatrical palette for the Montmarte quarter of Paris in 1899.
Celebrating the Bohemian ideals of truth, beauty, freedom, and love, John Logan’s book of Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 movie musical depicts the love triangle of an infatuated and aspiring singer-song writer Christian (Aaron Tveit) with the beautiful and celebrated chanteuse/courtesan Satine (Karen Olivo), who is jealously coveted by the wealthy and privileged The Duke of Monroth (Tam Mutu), while the Moulin Rouge’s wily host/impresario Harold Zidler (Danny Burstein) works double time to keep his club afloat. The poor and not yet appreciated artist Toulouse-Lautrec (Sahr Ngaujah) combines forces with Santiago, the greatest tango dancer (and gigolo) in Paris, and the tantalizing Nini (Robyn Hurder) to support Zidler’s effort. Backed by a multi-talented cast of performers who come in all shapes, sizes and skin tones, the headliners hold the stage throughout the 2:30 minute, high energy production via their superb theatrical skills and superlative, collective chemistry.
The mash-up of songs feels like another featured character. Taking up almost four columns in the program of teeny-tiny print, an array of iconic pop ballads include selections from the Rolling Stones, Beyonce, David Bowie, Madonna, Elton John, Dolly Parton, along with a panoply of Broadway musical composers, and Bizet’s opera “Carmen” as well as dozens upon dozens of other much loved songs and artists.
A group of expert collaborators and a top notch cast deliver a nonstop immersion into the extravagances and indulgences of this La Boheme love story. With its pedigree of performers and medley of songs, “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” is a sure bet for a slew of Tony nominations. Will it stand the test of time? Surely for its huge fan base and widely appreciative audiences. But for those of us who prefer an emotional punch along with the bells and whistles, the jury’s still out.
