Moulin Rouge Broadway Review

I can hardly express my emotions about this show, so this won’t be a formal review. But god, this show was amazing and reminded me of why I love theatre so much. I’m incredibly lucky to have seen this show and to be back and seeing live theatre once again. Moulin Rouge was magical, energetic, and sensational. As soon as you enter the theatre, one is immersed in the club-like scene; bright lights, red everything, a giant elephant, and a windmill surrounds you. At this point the outside world is forgotten. I thought it was a fun aspect that some of the performers walked around the stage to rile the crowd up beforehand, only adding to the lively experience. Being on the outskirts of the orchestra was quite the experience as well. The performers actually interact with you, sharing glances and if you’re really lucky, a conversation. They run right past you multiple times. I could hardly contain myself when Aaron Tviet (Christian) shot out into the crowd. As soon as the lights go down the energy skyrockets due to upbeat songs and fast-paced dance numbers. Though there are plenty of perfectly timed moments to relax and breathe. I have truly never seen a show with such a complex set and lighting design. The lights flow well with the music. The lights must be perfectly timed to the beats as well, which I cannot imagine how hard that is to manage. There is one scene in particular I was impressed by, where everyone is lit in green, meanwhile Christian is shone in white light. He quickly moves across the stage, yet somehow the white light follows him. The lights were dazzling and fit flawlessly with the stage directions. I’m not sure what I was expecting as I’m not typically a fan of jukebox musicals, but this one blew me away. The songs were orchestrated differently, making it more original and fitting for the characters' storylines. Though many of the songs were intentionally cliche at times, they also found many ways to incorporate seriousness, making the show the perfect mix of both light-hearted and momentous. I would 100% see this show again and I recommend it to anyone, even those not as familiar with musicals (except for children, do not bring your children). One is guaranteed to find a song they love or at the least can tolerate. I truly don’t think one can be unhappy while watching this show. It’s more than a distraction though, it leaves you thinking about the theme of love for hours. The only thing I did not like was the basic synopsis. I have seen plenty of shows where a man and woman are destined to fall in love. Overall the dynamic music and staging make up for this. Finally, I want to commend each and every actor/actress who performs in this show almost daily. To be a part of any broadway show takes stamina, but this show in particular must take months of training and an immense amount of energy. I want to thank every person who is a part of this show for bringing me such joy and excitement through their work and I know I am not the only one. This show reminds me to be grateful for the fact that hundreds of people work so hard to keep you on the edge of your seat.