Theatre Review: Thriller Live - Lyric Theatre ✭✭✭✭✭
Thriller Live
Thursday 26th June 2014: Here I am again, on my 6th visit to Thriller Live in the West End, and with new cast members in the show, I was looking forward to being treated to some fabulous Michael Jackson music... and I wasn't let down at all!
For me, Thriller Live isn't the usual bog standard karaoke style West End show that comes and goes in a few weeks. Thriller Live takes us on a journey of Michael Jackson's discography, from the early days of the Jackson 5, through to number one selling solo albums such as Thriller and Bad. Not many people can pull off Jacko's style as "King of Pop", but the performers on stage do a damn good job of it.
Kicking off as young Michael was the adorable Kyle Johnson fronting the Jackson 5 singing hits such as ABC, I Want You Back and I'll Be There. We were taken back to the 70's with the big hair, big flares and even bigger vocals from such a young lad. Nice work indeed.
On to the lead vocalists, and without doubt Thriller Live now has one of the strongest line-ups in it's history. Haydon Eshun has very strong vocals along with John Moabi and each bring their own style to the Jackson fold. Ricardo Alfonso silences the audience with his version of She's Out Of My Life - so much passion and feeling goes into this number, it is still one of my all time favourites from Jackson. David Jordan is brilliant as ever, moonwalking his way through the numbers, his dancing doesn't miss a beat.
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| Cleo Higgins Photo by Irina Chira |
Add to this the energy of the ensemble, who in my mind are one of the hardest working bunch in the West End with this show. The dance routines are of high impact, and with tracks such as Smooth Criminal, Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough and Thriller added into the mix, the whole cast and band on stage make it look easy. What would be nice is if a couple of new numbers were added to the set list, perhaps This Is It and one of his latest singles - Love Never Felt so Good - I can only hope!
Another fabulous show all round, hats off to all involved. Go and see it and have a Thrilling time!
5 stars ✭✭✭✭✭
Thriller Live continues at the Lyric Theatre and is currently booking into April 2015.
Buy tickets HERE
