MJ is not like any other jukebox musical based on
the life of a famous entertainer that I have seen. It’s not just a line up of
one big Jackson number after another but weaves his music and story into an
understanding of the man. It’s like a tapestry of his life and those threads
that made him one of the best entertainers of all time. Jackson strives for perfection in entertainment. He might agree with me that the story, music,
dancing, set, costumes and more achieved it in MJ.
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| MJ weaves his music and story to understand the person |
I experienced the Michael Jackson frenzy in the 80’s sporting
a red leather jack and sparky glove like everyone else. I was ready to relive
the music and dancing in the musical.
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| Opening and bang"Who's Bad" |
Opening, the audience waits with the dancers on the rehearsal set of the Dangerous Tour. Jackson (Jamaal Fields-Green) arrives with a bang. The music “Bad” blasts, his leg kicks, synchronised group dancing starts and on target vocals give us the “King of Pop.” Everyone in the audience clapped. I felt a twang of nostalgia.
MJ focus on the creation of the 1992 Dangerous Tour and
a MTV interview that tries to gain insight
on the person. During the rehearsal Jackson makes on the spot adaptations in choreography.
There is tiring repetition of music and movement to get it right. That makes sense when he expresses,
“the song is like a map in my head and body.”
The interview props memories of his childhood, the beginnings
with the Jackson 5 and his father’s demands to never stop working for perfection. The flashback with the Jackson
5 performing “ABC” highlights the talent of the young Michael. There are about 25 of Jackson’s biggest hits
in this show and each one, whether used as part of his memory or for the tour, is performed with as much energy and precision as one of his concerts.
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| Glass frames the set expressing a difficult time for Jackson |
There were parts of his life so brilliantly expressed that they caused me to ponder about the forces shaping the person. The mother and son bond is displayed when Katherine Jackson (Anastasia Talley) sang “I Be There” to her son. His pain is expressed in the shattered glass framing the set when Jackson was getting bombarded with media stories and hate. Anger is a focus in the larger than life “Thriller” zombie number where his father was portrayed as the monster.
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| Bob Fosse influence on Jackson's dance |
We learn about the creative positive influences in Jackson’s life. Quincy Jones, (Josh A. Dawson) whose vocals shine in “Keep the Faith,” moulded his sound. The Nicholas Brothers, Fred Astaire and Bob Fosse impacted his dancing. In a dance sequence, Jackson moves with each of them adding his unique flair to their style.
There are three “Michaels:” little Michael (Josiah Benson,
Bane Griffith) teenage Michael (Erik Hamilton) and the one in 1992 (Jamall
Fields-Green). All are brilliant, believable and seemed to have the energy of
the performer. We got the signature sound, look at each stage, moonwalk, high pitched vocal injections
and even an elevated talking voice. At times Jamall’s high voice was soft and difficult
to understand but the singing, the portal of the child-like persona and dancing made up for it.
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| Teenage Michael and 1992 Michael sing together |
I would like to think that Michael Jackson looking down on this show would think that they got it right. There is line in the show, “for Michael life off stage is complicated but not so much on.” MJ brings perfection like the “King of Pop” did to the stage.
(MJ is part of PNC Broadway Series. It runs from November 19 through December 1, 2024. For tickets go to trustarts.org.)
All photos above credited to Matthew Murphy.
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| No longer have red leather but black will do |
Spiritual Refection
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:1)
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