Review: If you’re looking for subtle, Moulin Rouge! The Musical isn’t it

Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a fast paced, frenetic, 75-strong song rollercoaster, and the only thing to do is to sit down, strap yourself in, and enjoy the ride, writes Frances Whiting.

• In Pictures: Opening night
• VIPs: Baz Luhrman in town

Moulin Rouge! The Musical earns the exclamation mark in its title - followed perhaps by a chorus line of high kicks, a toast from a glass plucked from a champagne tower, and once the curtain falls, a good lie down.

From the moment theatre goers enter Brisbane’s Lyric Theatre and time travel to the Belle Epoque of Paris, to its chocolate box assortment of bohemians and aristocrats, street rats and top hats, it is a fast paced, frenetic, 75 strong song rollercoaster, and the only thing to do is to sit down, strap yourself in, and enjoy the ride.

Because, as nightclub owner Harold Zidler (Simon Burke) welcomes us in his opening lines: “For this is more than a nightclub, the Moulin Rouge is a state of mind”.

Then, as he slowly raises the red neon sign of the famous Parisian club, beneath it, the ladies of the Moulin Rouge - corsetted, sexy, fabulous - raise their voices with a “Hey Sister, Soul Sister”, and we’re off through the heart-shaped portal and into the world Baz Luhrman first created cinematically in 2001.

Cast of Moulin Rouge The Musical at QPAC Brisbane (left to right) Chaska Halliday, Olivia Vasquez, Christopher Scalzo and Samantha Dodemaide, Thursday, May 18, 2023 - Picture: Richard Walker

The stage version doesn’t stray too far from its screen original; it remains the story of the dreamy and artistic Christian (Des Flanagan) in love with the beautiful Satine (Alinta Chidzey) who must sell herself and her soul, to the wealthy Duke (James Bryers) in order to save the fading nightclub. Remaining too, are some of the beloved songs that underscored the movie, including Your Song, Nature Boy, Come What May and El Tango de Roxanne. What’s added into the (mega) mix is a mashup of hits from nightclub dance floors from the ‘80s onwards, including tracks from Madonna, A-Ha, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Lorde, The Police, Gnarls Barkley, Beyonce, Natalie Imbruglia, Katy Perry and Tina Turner. Some of these songs work better than others, but what - or who - does work is the cast.

Chidzey, from her glittering entrance on her swing is dazzling as Satine, her solo of Katy Perry’s ‘Firework’, standing defiant and damned, was a showstopper. Flanagan’s Christian is open hearted, charming and vulnerable, while Burke’s Zidler is, in turns, lascivious, over-the-top, then paper-thin fragile.

Opening night of Moulin Rouge the Musical at QPAC in Brisbane with Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin walking the red carpet. South BrisbaneSaturday 20th May 2023 Picture David Clark

Bryers brings us a darker, sexier Duke than the filmic villain, while the “Lady Marmalade’ quartet of Nini (Samantha Dodemaide), Arabia (Olivia Vasques), La Chocolat (Chaska Halliday) and Babydoll (Christopher J Scalzo) bring the sassy and sexy in spades.

In the supporting roles of Toulouse-Lautrec and Santiago, Jarrod Draper and Ryan Gonzalez shine brighter than the diamonds in the Rhianna hit Satine also sings, giving the show its impoverished, Bohemian soul and knockabout, street humour.

The other smash hit is the production. From the smattering of chandeliers above the audience to the 220kg blue foam elephant in one corner of the Lyric, and the iconic red windmill of the famous Parisian club in the other, it’s a red velvet fever dream of a show.

Gallery: Big line-up for Rouge carpet

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Truth. Beauty. Freedom. Love. These were the four motifs that underpinned Luhrman’s film and which also lie at the heart of this musical. But mostly, as Luhrman reminded the audience as he and his partner/co-creator Catherine Martin, strolled on stage (much to the delight of the opening night audience) during the curtain call, love.

There’s an abundance of love in this show, in its songs, in its themes, in its staging, in its neon signs, it is writ large at every turn. This is not a show for the cynical, and it is anything but subtle. But then, you don’t go to Moulin Rouge! The Musical for subtle, do you?

Moulin Rouge! The Musical

Lyric Theatre, Queensland Performing Arts Centre until July 27.

Tickets from QTix, online or 136 246