“Moulin Rouge! The Musical”
The Bushnell Performing Arts Center
The national touring company of “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” is in tip-top shape, as seen at The Bushnell in Hartford, CT. The show is, from beginning to end, absolutely dazzling, with a seemingly endless array of fabulous costumes and gorgeous sets. And the entire company of actors is just terrific, with standout performances by the leads Christian Douglas, Gabrielle McClinton, and Robert Petkoff. For fans of the film, director Alex Timbers and his team of creators and designers have created a kaleidoscopic world onstage, with all the sparkle and hyperkinetic imagery from the film intact. For those who are unable to make it to Broadway to see “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” rest assured that the touring production is extremely satisfying and a grand night of musical theatre.
“Moulin Rouge! The Musical” employs a large cast of performers, many of whom help provide a flashy backdrop to the central story. As in the film, the plot revolves around the owners of the Moulin Rouge, and the actors employed there, desperately needing money to keep the entertainment venue open and finding hope from the dashing Duke of Monroth (perfectly embodied by the slightly sinister Andrew Brewer). Harold Zidler (the charismatic Robert Petkoff), the manager and MC of the club, finds the ideal bait in the form of Satine, who is gloriously played by Gabrielle McClinton, fully living up to her stature as the shining “diamond” of the show. Without getting too much more into the plot, there is also the struggling composer Christian (the enormously sympathetic and fine Christian Douglas) who, through a series of misunderstandings, meets and becomes entranced with Satine.
However, it must be stated that those coming to see “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” are likely not coming for the story. Instead, the production offers layers of razzle-dazzle imagery and stage craft that will literally take your breath away. From the opening moments of the show, when one can see the profiles of the actresses projected through the show curtain, and the stellar orchestra (led by the super music director Andrew Graham) begins playing the first notes of “Lady Marmalade,” this show is on fire and remains endlessly scintillating. Instead of employing a new score, “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” uses bits of popular songs and lyrics and strewn them together to create the pulsating musical accompaniment that the show thrives on. The sensational orchestrations are by Katie Kresek, Charlie Rosen, Matt Stine, and Justin Levine and they are everything one could hope for.
This is not to say that one doesn’t come to care about the characters and their plight, but the plot does take a backseat to the fabulous theatrics. Still, the performances are uniformly excellent, with wonderful work also provided by Nick Rashad Burroughs, as Toulouse-Lautrec, Danny Burgos, as Santiago, and Sarah Bowden, as showgirl Nini. The entire cast is uniformly fantastic and it says a lot that they all make a significant impression, even with the array of sumptuous and beautiful costumes (designed by Catherine Zuber) and Derek McLane providing the show stopping set design. This entertainment is strikingly lit by lighting designer Justin Townsend and the choreography by Sonya Tayeh is positively electrifying.
Broadway shows don’t come much more larger-than-life and visually stimulating than “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” and the musical truly feels like an event that any theatergoer will treasure. And, even acknowledging that the plot is not as strong as the rich and crackling imagery, don’t be surprised if you wipe a tear or two away by the end of the show, especially concerning the romance between Christian and Satine. “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” the national touring company currently playing at The Bushnell, truly lives up to everything one has heard about this musical and more, and this is one knockout of a production.
“Moulin Rouge! The Musical” runs through December 3, 2023, at the Bushnell Performing Arts Center, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford CT. For tickets, call 860-987-5900 or visit bushnell.org.
Photo: The cast of “Moulin Rouge! The Musical”
Photo by Matthew Murphy
Reviews by Zander Opper 
Zander,
Sent from my iPad