If you can only get to see one show this year, make sure you witness the spectacular West End production of The Bodyguard on its national tour. Eastbourne’s Congress Theatre have always taken pride in their ability to offer the “West End by the Sea” but, with this show, they really have hit the heights.
Based on Lawrence Kasdan’s 1992 Oscar Nominated film, which starred Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, the musical was nominated for four Laurence Olivier Awards and won Best New Musical at the Whatsonstage Awards – and it’s very easy to see why.
Even with the huge space that the stage of the Congress Theatre offers, this production also makes full use of the orchestra pit for the live Bodyguard Orchestra, under the direction of Sam Hall, who deliver a perfectly rounded sound.
Ayden Callaghan puts his feet firmly in Kevin Costner’s shoes as The Bodyguard, Frank Farmer, and gives a solid performance, firstly as the cold and distant employee who is simply concerned with his charge’s safety and, eventually, as the object of her desire.
Taking on the lead role of Rachel Marron, for all evening performances, is Emily Williams who not only gets to belt out all of Whitney’s greatest hits from the film, but also proves that she has trained hard as an actress as well. In a role that takes her from the highest highs to the depths of fear and depression, she delivers in every scene and steals the show with a breathtaking, showstopping, performance of I Will Always Love You.
Special mention has to go to a pair of incredible actors who take on two roles that are absolutely pivotal in the show. Emily-Mae plays Nicki Marron, Rachel’s sister, who, despite always taking second place behind her sister, shows off her own stunning vocal talents with Whitney’s 1985 smash hit, Saving All My Love for You and, at the other end of the emotional scale, Marios Nicolaides who plays The Stalker. Cold, calculating and seriously creepy, his appearances are always teamed with the very best sound and lighting effects to maximise the sense of impending terror.
A team of young actors take turns to play Rachel’s 10-year-old son Fletcher and, on press night, it fell to Manasseh Mapira (in a role that is shared with Ryo Appadu, Kaylen Luke and Sam Stephens) to wow the audience with his cool dance moves, very mature acting and a good singing voice too.
On a set that quickly, effortlessly and silently changes from a nightclub to a mansion to a recording studio and even to a log cabin in the snow, the cast work together like a well-oiled machine and whether they are throwing themselves around the stage in a full throttle dance number, or playing the audience sitting watching a cabaret performance in a bar, they all give the full 100%.
I am very lucky to be able to say that I have seen many West End shows that have travelled down to visit us on the South Coast and I can honestly say, hand on heart, that this cool, classy, slick and sophisticated production of The Bodyguard is one of the best.
***** Five Stars