Sponsored by
Tribute is timeless
There's nothing new about stage shows dedicated to the music of rock and pop stars – Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, Rod Stewart, Abba, Neil Sedaka and Queen have already had their hits neatly packaged alongside scripts of varying flimsiness.
With MJ Timeless – a tribute the music and memory of Michael Jackson which is being premiered in Blackpool this summer – any idea of a story is abandoned all together.
In its place is an all singing, all dancing reminder of Jackson the performer rather than Jackson the person. It's his music delivered in the style of his memorable concerts – complete with rock concert style sound system and 360 degrees sightlines.
No biography, no explanation, fewer words than his monosyllabic press conferences and no timeline chronology – just the man, his mates and his music.
It's an approach which clearly works. The shouts of "Michael we love you" imply certain members of the audience are prepared to overlook the fact that this is, in fact, tribute act Danny Oliver making the famous Jackson moves his own. The standing ovations the production has been receiving since it opened certainly say that director and choreographer Anand Bhatt has come up with something that people want.
Musically there are all the hits that anyone could wish for but equally there are plenty of surprises too with tour favourites and album gems dropped in along with the million sellers.
But it's not all down to Oliver to carry the show. He adds the familiar whoops to Jacko's pre-recorded vocals and has carbon copied the dancing and crotch grabbing in fine style but it's the trio of breakdancers and team of hip hop world champions Plague who really whip the audience up with their excellent routines which work so well in the circus surrounds of this venue.
From robotics to tap dancing, break dancing to Bollywood their athleticism is outstanding and Brooke Milliner work makes him name to watch out for.
Equally there's a vocal team to take us through the chameleon changes of Jackson's music. Former girl group Honeyz member Celena Cherry looks and sounds good paying her personal tribute to Jackson whilst one time Australian Hi-5 member Tim Harding together with Laura Houston and Gemma Kotak move the rest of the music along from ballad to disco and funk to guitar led rock.
With a stage-filling Thriller and its ghouls ending the first half, fans are clearly left wondering what's been saved for the end. What they get is a choir of local children and the full cast echoing the rather more maudlin Earth Song before the angry They Don't Care About Us reminds us of Jacko's harder side, he's crowned the king of pop and his fans leap to their feet.
*Tuesday to Saturday at 7.30pm and Sundays 1 and 4pm until
September 5.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Blackpool
Wednesday 30 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: West
