Seeing a show for a second, third or even, as in this case, for the fifth time, can sometimes disappoint. What seemed so good the first time round occasionally pales away. With Thriller Live exactly the opposite is the case as this show just seems to get better and better. The raw energy that emanates from the stage permeates the auditorium and lifts everyone to the brink of euphoria. Every bit as good as it’s West End version, Thriller Live is a touring show that really is at the very top of it’s game.
The cast of five soloists and more than a dozen dancers, together with the live six-piece band, are working with one of the best back catalogues of music ever created and, as they blast their way through it, the audience waste no time in getting into the spirit. Each song, from the very earliest Jackson 5 hits like I Want You Back and ABC, through to their disco classics Shake Your Body, Can You Feel It and Blame It On The Boogie, has the enthusiastic audience singing and clapping along – and we haven’t even touched on Michael’s huge list of solo hits yet.
The four lead vocalists, Shaquille Hemmans, Britt Quentin, Adriana Louise and Jason Brock, take turns to deliver the numbers. Sometimes alone and sometimes in harmony, they each highlight a slightly different facet of the classic Michael Jackson vocal ability but with all of them delivering performances that reflect their love and admiration for Michael. Of the four leads, it is Brock who gets to show off exactly how unbelievably pure his voice is with his stunning rendition of She’s Out Of My Life – a magical highlight in the first half.
The supporting dancers all work tremendously hard with numerous costume changes and some very complicated choreography by Gary Lloyd. Whether they are stomping their way through the disco classics or delivering hip hop acrobatics, they all seem to take the breakneck pace of the show in their stride. Special mention also has to go to Steve White and the Thriller Live Band who blast their way through hit after hit, recreating faithfully the original sound.
Kieran Alleyne is a superb Michael Jackson look-alike and an incredible dancer. He has obviously studied Jackson’s classic routines incredibly carefully and he delivers them with consummate skill and pinpoint precision and his lip-syncing in iconic numbers like Billie Jean, Bad and Thriller is absolutely spot on.
Although the superb performances of Beat It, Dirty Diana and Smooth Criminal are all breathtaking, without doubt the highlight of the second half is a four vocal version of Michael’s showstopping spectacular, Earth Song. The video screens, which surround the metal gantry set, all spring to life with images of our world being ruined by “progress” and the full cast give a supremely passionate performance which, justifiably, gets the biggest applause of the evening.
Director/choreographer Gary Lloyd and Executive Director Adrian Grant have put together the ultimate Michael Jackson tribute show, a wonderful reminder of the greatest entertainer that the world has ever known. A talent that disappeared far too soon and a man who, despite everything that happened in his life, managed to create music that will outlive us all.
***** Five Stars