It’s time to take a trip to a place “where all your dreams come true!” Moulin Rouge! has just started its run at West Palm Beach’s Kravis Center. The sparkling jukebox musical, directed by Alex Timbers, with a book by John Logan, and based on the 2001 film of the same name, is about to reach its six-year anniversary on Broadway, where it received 10 Tony Awards, including a win for Best Musical. And for good reason—this show-stopping spectacle is a feast for the eyes as well as for the ears, and, with its devastatingly beautiful love story, for the heart, too.
Set in the artistic Montmartre neighborhood in Paris, France at the turn of the 20th century, the story follows Christian (Jay Armstrong Johnson), a young American composer, who falls in love with Satine (Arianna Rosario), a cabaret actress at the iconic Moulin Rouge nightclub. The two band together to create a new show that will hopefully save the Moulin Rouge from financial ruin—but plenty of twists and turns abound along the way. Can Christian and Satine’s “backstage romance” truly survive anything?
I was awestruck by Moulin Rouge every step of the way! From the moment I entered the rouge-tinted theater, I knew this production would be nothing short of spectacular. Two of my favorite performances came from Jay Armstrong Johnson and Arianna Rosario, who immediately get the audience invested in Christian and Satine’s whirlwind love story. Johnson captures Christian’s passion and idealism, as the character has recently moved to Paris from Lima, Ohio, to pursue his musical ambitions. Meanwhile, Rosario’s smart, sophisticated Satine has been through some difficult things in her life, but she still dares to dream big. Their chemistry perfectly illustrates the headiness and excitement of falling in love, while also conveying the pain and despair that occur when these star-crossed lovers are torn apart by various forces.
The rest of the cast is equally impressive, including Robert Petkoff as Harold Zidler, the exuberant director of the Moulin Rouge, Jahi Kearse and Danny Burgos as Toulouse-Lautrec and Santiago, Christian’s new friends and fellow Bohemian artists, Andrew Brewer as the cunning Duke of Monroth, whose conditional support threatens to seal the financial fate of the Moulin Rouge, and Kaitlin Mesh as Nini, Moulin Rouge dancer and Satine’s frenemy of sorts, who is envious of her leading role at the club but also looks out for her when it really matters. The entire cast brings new meaning to the term “triple threat”—these singers, dancers, and actors can send chills down an audience member’s spine with a single note, wow them with every move, and tug at their heartstrings with each line!
Of course, the extravagance of Moulin Rouge! would not be possible without the work of its crew members, particularly those who assist in the show’s resplendent scenic, lighting, and costume design, and its eye-catching choreography. While slightly scaled down from the Broadway production, the tour production is no less impressive in these areas! Scenic Designer Derek McLane fully transports audiences to Paris during the Belle Époque—the “Beautiful Age,” which certainly lives up to its name here. Lighting Designer Justin Townsend dazzles viewers at every turn—literally and figuratively, as the set features around 5,100 lightbulbs encompassing the stage, in front of the stage, and on the side walls. The lighting was particularly impressive in songs like “Crazy Rolling,” highlighting the moments where Christian and Satine are in conflict with each other.
The Moulin Rouge experience would not quite be complete without lavish costumes, thanks to the work of Costume Designer Catherine Zuber. Diamonds are truly a girl’s best friend in this case, as one of Satine’s dresses in the show features about 6,000 blue crystals, her corset approximately 3,000 diamonds, and her gloves 1,000 diamonds. From Satine’s glitzy outfits to the colorful dresses of the can-can dancers, every piece of clothing captures the feel of the era and the spectacle of the Moulin Rouge. Choreographer Sonya Tayeh adds to the show’s immersive feel, with high-energy numbers like “Welcome to the Moulin Rouge” and “The Sparkling Diamond.” The choreography also seamlessly combines different dance styles throughout—you’ll spot cancan, jazz, tango, classic musical theater, and so many more.
