★★★★
‘MJ the Musical’ is currently delighting audiences at the Prince Edward Theatre in London. It is the second time a musical featuring the King of Pop’s songs has been in Theatreland, following the success of the concert tribute show ‘Thriller Live’ from 2009 to 2020. This time however, ‘MJ’ focuses on the performer’s life, from growing up in the public eye to the ‘Dangerous World’ tour in the 1990s and the process that went into creating this spectacle. With a book by Lynn Nottage and direction by Christopher Wheeldon, ‘MJ’ offers a fascinating perspective on the legendary performer, complete with thrilling choreography. I managed to catch one of Myles Frost’s final performances in the title role and it was evident from the minute the actor appeared on stage why audiences rave about his performance.
Storytelling and flashbacks
The present day for the musical is 1992, specifically a couple of days before the tour is about to kick off in Munich. Michael Jackson is fully immersed in rehearsals with his tour manager and supporting cast, desperate to make the production perfect. A film crew has been invited into rehearsals to watch the artist’s creative process, but director Rachel (Philippa Stefani) is looking to find out more about the person behind the tabloid headlines. The line of questioning leads to flashbacks to the early days with the Jackson 5, unimaginable pressure from Joe Jackson and the singer’s journey to becoming an icon. Three versions of the musician are shown on stage: Michael Jackson in the 1990s (Myles Frost), Teenage Michael / Young Adult Michael (Mitchell Zhangazha) and Little Michael (Cristiano Cuino), with each role representing a section of the musician’s career up to the tour.
Thoughts on the book
What surprised me the most about this show is how much I enjoyed the structure, notably the blurring of the past and present scenes. There are lots of musicals about a performer or group’s life and in my opinion, the genre is quite saturated. ‘MJ’ is unique in how it focuses on a very small section of the singer’s career, but also considers how much the early beginnings had an impact on the King of Pop.
Whilst the transitions from the past to the present are slick, the lack of a linear narrative and changing set does make the script seem a little disjointed at times, but I would certainly rather this effect than a like-for-like clone of some of the other autobiographical musicals out there. Additionally, in a few places I questioned why it was suddenly time for a high production musical number, when the script was leaning towards more complex topics and anecdotes surrounding the figure. That being said, I can appreciate that audiences would not want to leave without hearing their favourite hits, so it would have been a fine balancing act for the creative team.
Choreography
With Michael Jackson being such a universally renowned dancer, it is unsurprising to see the company filled with exceptional dance talent. Christopher Wheeldon’s movements are brought to life with unrivalled confidence, with every move feeling deeply rhythmic and precise. There is also a fluidity to the performance styles of the three actors playing Michael, which makes this production fantastic to watch from a dance perspective.
A musical that focuses on artistry and creativity
‘MJ’ is a very creative jukebox musical, which gives audiences an insight into Michael Jackson’s artistry. I don’t believe you can watch this musical without considering the allegations against the deceased star and in my opinion the show doesn’t shy away from this, it just simply chooses to focus on the music. The choreography is a standout and with such strong principal performers in the company, you truly believe you are in the presence of younger versions of Michael Jackson. ‘MJ the Musical’ is currently playing at the Prince Edward Theatre until Saturday 13th September 2025. Tickets can be purchased via any of the major London theatre ticket outlets.
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