Review: Cirque du Soleil - Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour - London O2 Arena ✭

Oh where to begin with this review. Usually, Cirque du Soleil shows get a good four or five stars due to their technical brilliance, jaw dropping effects and mesmerising feats of acrobatability (it's a new word for you, rolls off the tongue).

But last night at the O2 Arena, Cirque's latest offering - Michael Jackson The IMMORTAL World Tour -  is a complete and misguided contrast, both in artistic merit and audience wow factor for an arena tour. There are normally gasps of excitement and astonishment when you watch a Cirque show, but alas, there were only gasps of despair as what unfolded in front of us was a shambolic mess of a show.

OK, I'll give credit where it is due, there was a fantastic pole dancer, who was writhing and using the pole with dexterity and strength I've not seen before at six meters high. And there was also a damn fine aerial routine at the top of act two to 'I Just Can't Stop Loving You'. But that was all that was noteworthy in this production.

The rest of show was painfully dull to watch, very little acrobatic skills we are used to seeing, awful sound - often crackling, and a multitude of messiness with performers either dancing or doing the odd somersault to MJ tracks.

What Cirque have tried to do here is blend live and recorded music (badly), throw in some stunts and call it a show. It's simply not working, with so many audience leaving early and moaning about how bad the show actually is.

If you want to see a great show packed with Michael Jackson songs, great singing and dancing and a good night out - then give this a complete miss and go and see Thriller Live in the West End. Enough said!

1 star out of 5 ✭

For complete tour and ticket information, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com/michaeljackson