Moulin Rouge!
Playing at Al Hirschfeld Theatre
Musical or play? Musical
Lottery or Rush Tickets? Digital Lottery available through Lucky Seat
What I Paid: $250.45
Official Website: https://moulinrougemusical.com/
Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. Directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a theatrical celebration of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and — above all — Love. With a book by Tony Award winner John Logan; music supervision, orchestrations, and arrangements by Tony Award winner Justin Levine; and choreography by Tony Award winner Sonya Tayeh, Moulin Rouge! is more than a musical — it is a state of mind.
REVIEW
After hearing great things about Moulin Rouge! The Musical, I made sure to see the show on Broadway during a recent trip to New York City. I purchased full price tickets directly through the Moulin Rouge! website, and sat Orchestra Center, Row Q. This seat was further back in the orchestra, which meant that some of the set, specifically the windmill and elephant on the sides, was not fully visible. However, all of the onstage action could be seen quite well. I would not recommend sitting in the Can Can seats towards the front, as you will miss a lot of the show even though you’ll feel like you’re a part of it. If you can splurge for premium seats or the very front of the mezzanine, you will get the best view.
Moulin Rouge! is a jukebox musical that tells the story of Christian, a young American composer traveling to Paris. In an attempt to sell his music, Christian visits the cabaret club Moulin Rouge where he meets, and instantly falls in love with, the club’s star, Satine. What follows is a dramatic love story told through some of our favorite pop songs from the last few decades.
What makes Moulin Rouge! stand out from other jukebox musicals is the unique way the songs are mashed together to fit the story. As a first time viewer, part of the fun was recognizing the music as each song began. In fact, I really enjoyed it whenever there was an audible reaction from the audience whenever a song started. It’s very impressive how the pop songs we know and love get woven together in this show. While the music may not be original, the way it is presented in Moulin Rouge! is certainly very creative. I cannot even fathom how difficult it must have been to find just the right lyrics, orchestrate the mash-ups, and secure the licensing rights for this soundtrack.
That being said, the book in Moulin Rouge! was a bit weak for me. I rolled my eyes when Christian and Satine fell in love on the first night they met. It also felt like some songs didn’t really fit into the storyline, especially when you consider the 1899 timeline. I found myself absolutely loving the big production numbers with the full cast of dancers, but wanting more during the scenes that advanced the plot. There were also a few side stories that felt a bit thrown in, but overall the music and dancing made up for what was lacking in the book.
As for the cast, I was most excited to see Tituss Burgess as Harold Zidler. Burgess did an incredible job, and it really felt like he was made for this role. The audience had a great reaction to him, and he owned the stage as the energetic host of the Moulin Rouge. Courtney Reed is currently playing leading lady Satine, and she is certainly a highlight as well. Her voice is stunning, and she easily portrays the different facets of this character. Unfortunately, Casey Cott struggles as Christian. He just couldn’t hit many of his notes, especially in the higher register. Thankfully, he has good chemistry with Reed, and does capture the character of Christian well. I also wanted to give a shout out to Clay Rice-Thompson in the ensemble, who I’ve followed on Instagram for years. It was so fun to see him perform!
Moreover, one aspect I really loved about Moulin Rouge! is the atmosphere. As soon as you enter the theatre you feel as if you’ve been transported to the club in Paris. The lighting is dark with a red tone before the show beings and during intermission. The performers also slowly enter the stage before the opening number, and they are immediately in character. The set is intricate and beautifully built to capture the mood of the show. It’s really no surprise that Moulin Rouge! won the Tony awards for Best Scenic Design and Best Lighting Design. The Al Hirschfeld is truly transformed, and I love when Broadway feels immersive.
Overall, Moulin Rouge! is a fun and magical night of musical theater. Without giving anything away, the ending sequence of the show alone was worth the price of my ticket. While I wish the book and our leading man’s voice were stronger, I otherwise really enjoyed the show and understand why it has such a loyal fanbase. I only wish I saw it with Aaron Tveit, who originated the role of Christian! Nonetheless, I definitely recommend Moulin Rouge! It’s a great choice for those new to Broadway, due to the captivating ambiance and recognizeable music. As for me, I would certainly see this show again, but I will likely wait for a cast change.