Because of Wales Millennium Centre for offering us with tickets to The Bodyguard for the aim of this evaluation
The Bodyguard was a cultural phenomenon when the movie was launched again in 1992. Starring Whitney Houston as world famous person singer and actress Rachel Marron, and Kevin Costner as Frank Farmer, the bodyguard employed to guard her from a sinister stalker, it earned a string of Academy Award and Grammy nominations, was the second highest grossing movie of 1992 worldwide, behind solely Aladdin, and have become the tenth-highest-grossing movie of all time on the time. The accompanying soundtrack bought over 45 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling soundtrack of all time, and profitable the Grammy Award for Album of the 12 months. I Will At all times Love You, Houston’s cowl of the Dolly Parton basic, spent 10 weeks at primary within the UK charts and 14 weeks on the Billboard Scorching 100, turning into the best-selling bodily single by a feminine artist of all time.
It’s no shock then that the musical theatre adaptation has been a world success in its personal proper. Premiering within the West Finish in December 2012, it was nominated for 4 Olivier Awards, and to this point has been seen by greater than 3.6 million individuals in 15 international locations.
And now it’s again in Cardiff as a part of its third UK and Eire tour, for an virtually bought out week-long run at Wales Millennium Centre.
I took my 13 12 months outdated daughter to final evening’s press efficiency – me, an enormous Whitney and The Bodyguard fan, her extra focused on the truth that former Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton is starring within the lead function, however accustomed to plenty of Houston’s music, and having seen the current headlines about one of many reveals in Manchester being halted due viewers members having to be ‘forcibly eliminated’ having refused to cease singing alongside and ‘mini riots’ and ‘fights’ breaking out simply earlier than the top.
Fortunately there have been no such disturbances in Cardiff (the truth is, together with being requested to change telephones off, we’re requested to not sing alongside). What we bought was simply over two hours of powerhouse vocals, glitzy costumes, polished dance routines and a beautiful soundtrack of Whitney classics in an actual present stopper of a musical; a romantic thriller with one heck of a soundtrack.
The stage model is barely totally different to the movie, however devoted sufficient that followers gained’t really feel dissatisfied, and with further Whitney basic tracks cleverly interweaved too.
Whitney Houston’s sneakers are large ones to fill within the lead function, to not point out the likes of Beverley Knight and Alexandra Burke who’ve additionally performed the half on stage. Melody Thornton is superb although; she’s sassy, appears superb, dances faultlessly and carries off the musical numbers effortlessly. Thornton could also be finest recognized for being a part of an lively world pop act however I really most popular her vocals within the slower ballads, specifically I Have Nothing and I Will At all times Love You, which is the place she actually shined. The quicker extra pop-based numbers (for instance, the opener Queen of the Evening) didn’t fairly do her voice justice.
Emily-Mae as Rachel’s sister Nicki Marron is great. I’d have cherished to have seen extra from her as I felt her story wasn’t fairly totally explored. At all times within the shadow of her famous person sister, you may see her combined feelings of affection for her sister and resentment and jealously. Her solo vocal quantity, Saving All My Love For You, was highly effective and tender and considered one of my favorite musical numbers.
The function of Rachel’s son Fletcher is performed on rotation by 4 totally different younger actors, with Frankie Keita taking to the stage final evening. Simply 10 years outdated, he completely nailed his singing and dancing scenes, holding his personal amongst such an completed forged. His relationship with Frank was so candy with so many tender moments. What a expertise!
Within the function of Frank is Ayden Callaghan, finest recognized for Emmerdale and Hollyoaks, suitably indifferent in his function as protector however with that softer facet shining via.
The particular results throughout a number of the musical numbers are spectacular, with smoke, flames, dazzling lights and extra supplying you with pop live performance feels. The lighting and sound results additionally add loads rigidity to the scenes with The Stalker performed so chillingly nicely by Marios Nicolaides. Video is used to nice impact all through, particularly within the scenes with The Stalker. It suits in properly with the present being up to date to trendy instances – cellphones and social media weren’t even a factor when the movie initially got here out however assist the plot transfer on fairly cleverly in components.
The age steerage is 10+ and I’d say for many of the present that is about proper, nonetheless some youngsters might discover some components a bit of horrifying, particularly in direction of the top. The stalker is sinister at instances, there are a few jump-in-your-seat moments, loud bangs, and a dying. My daughter at 13 cherished the present however I believe at 10 she would have discovered these components upsetting.
That mentioned, the curtain name ends the night on a excessive with the complete auditorium up on their ft to I Wanna Dance With Someone. This time, we’re given full permission to sing and dance alongside, and that’s precisely what we do, ending on a excessive.
The Bodyguard at Wales Millennium Centre till Saturday 29 April. Restricted tickets are nonetheless accessible, priced from £19.50. See the Wales Millennium Centre web site extra info.
Age steerage 10+, no admittance to below 2s. Operating size 2 hours 20 together with interval.
The Bodyguard is touring the UK till 30 December 2023, full listing of dates right here.
Comply with Cardiff Mummy Says on Fb, Instagram and Twitter for extra concepts of days out and forthcoming occasions in and round Cardiff, or see the ‘Cardiff’ part of this website.
Associated
