Burlesque musical review: Christina Aquilera show is quality trash

Tuesday 22 July 2025 11:59 pm
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Tuesday 22 July 2025 7:46 pm

Burlesque musical evaluate: ★★★★

Was Burlesque going to be the worst musical of the yr? Headlines recommend chaos: the director and choreographer exited the manufacturing weeks earlier than the West Finish opening, and the late arrival of costumes compelled the actors’ union Fairness to place out an announcement a few “variety of points,” together with to do with unpaid invoices. Who stepped in as director? Todrick Corridor, the controversial performer who, amongst different issues, was criticised for insensitive behaviour throughout his stint on Movie star Massive Brother.

However the Burlesque musical doesn’t venture the chaos of its manufacturing – operating at two hours fifty minutes, it feels pacey, high-octane, and infrequently humorous, and is extra slathered than sprinkled with extremely eye-catching performances. 

Burlesque: Everybody’s right here for the manufacturing, which delivers

Impressed by the 2010 film starring Christina Aquilera and Cher, the West Finish iteration features a touching new story that brings its topics emotionally nearer collectively. It follows Ali Rose, a small city woman who travels to New York the place she lands a job in a struggling burlesque bar. Proprietor Tess has an old style mindset however membership MC Sean helps Ali climb the ranks and doubtlessly save the venue from closure.

Gravelly, humorous Todrick Corridor fires off his pure allure offensive as Sean, gluing collectively Steve Antin’s script with heat and the odd schmaltzy trick (he does the splits then jokes he’s too outdated for it, struggling again up once more). Most frequently, Corridor covers for when the plot feels skinny, which is very apparent and infrequently jarring by act two. 

However everybody’s right here for the manufacturing, which delivers. At factors, the Burlesque musical appears like a large Magic Mike manufacturing the place shimmering torsos are the principle characters, however away from the feeling, there may be depth; each Corridor and American singer-songwriter Orfeh who performs Tess show gravitas; they command after they stand on stage alone and belt. Jess Folley can be greater than succesful as lead Ali, bringing softer energy to the function originated by Aquilera.

There are new songs by Christina Aguilera, Sia and Diane Warren. Standouts embrace Jess’ solos Obtained It All From You and Sure To You, and Orfeh is equally majestic on You Haven’t Seen The Final Of Me. Choreography by Corridor is slick, however there may be one qualm with the staging: an over-reliance on a floor-to-ceiling video display screen behind the stage shifts the main target out of the universe, a bit like when the plot dips. And there may be maybe probably the most drained use of stay projected video (filmed on stage in the course of the manufacturing) that I’ve ever seen in a London theatre. The emotional payoff by the curtain additionally isn’t fairly what you need, the results of the wobbly script because the second act turns into more and more complicated.

Don’t spend an excessive amount of time worrying about that: that is the messy, chaotic world of burlesque and what issues is the vocals are so as.

E book tickets to the Burlesque musical

The Burlesque musical runs till 6 September, to guide go to burlesqueonstage.com

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