The West End and Broadway have had a productive little pipeline over the years; we give them Matilda and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, they give us Hamilton and (soon) Frozen: The Musical. And London will be blessed with another winning Broadway transfer this year, as a musical version of the Baz Luhrmann’s cult film Moulin Rouge! arrived yesterday (January 20).
Yes, that’s a while to wait (it was originally planned for March 2021, but the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has pushed it back another few months not once, but twice, after then being slated for November), but now that it’s finally arrived at Piccadilly Theatre, we’re pretty confident the crowds will go wild for it. The Broadway version of the jukebox musical has already scooped plenty of warm reviews since opening, having been described by one reviewer as “a canvas of spectacle and emotion that isn’t just a floorshow but left me floored with its sublime artistry.”
For those of you who haven’t yet seen the film – and it’s been out 20 years now, so you’ve dodged it pretty effectively – Moulin Rouge! follows the love affair of writer Christian and courtesan Satine through the cabaret clubs and theatres of Montmatre. Drawing heavily from the world of pop (snippets of some 70 songs are featured, along with a handful of originals), it’s a riot of music and colour, complete with some pretty jaw-dropping set design.
Really, the only downside has been the long delay, but it’s finally here, and we’re certain it’s worth the wait. Find information and tickets here.