The performance was listed as beginning at 7pm, and though the lights were still on in the theatre, a bit of activity was taking place on the stage. The scenery was like a warehouse, with a band set up in the corner. As more people gathered it started to make more sense- they were showing up for rehearsal. Men and women in warm up clothing began doing stretches and yoga-ish type poses, many making me inwardly say, “ow!”. Some took places behind microphones, or picked up instruments, and one gentleman looked like he could have partnered with Will Smith in Men in Black. After a bit, a man with a stopwatch hanging around his neck called out, “Michael (MJ) will be here in 5 minutes”. Then without fanfare MJ came through the door and nonchalantly conversed with the others. One woman, who had her two boys in tow, said to MJ, “I’m sorry but the babysitter canceled”. MJ didn’t seem to mind. He began to make his way to the front of the stage, the cast fell into ranks and began to dance. A bit of “Billie Jean” was played before being morphed into a full version of “Beat It”, complete with the guitarist and MJ climbing a stack of road cases during the famed Eddie Van Halen solo.
What was transpiring on stage was a Broadway musical version of the rehearsal and preparation for the 1992-3 MJ Dangerous World Tour. Two reporters from MTV had been given access to interview MJ and the film crew about some of their activities. This provides the scaffolding onto which the story of the MJ musical is built. The first few questions lead into the song,“The Price of Fame”. As one of the reporters continued to interview MJ, the show began to flash back to his beginnings with the Jackson 5 and his influences. This opens the door for the performance of a couple of classic Motown numbers.
The Jackson family is portrayed by the members of the cast who are part of the Dangerous rehearsals, as well as the two kids who didn’t have a babysitter. Many of the cast members are recycled into other roles and back again throughout the night.
We are taken through the Jackson family dynamic: an overbearing and abusive Joe Jackson who controls his kids by pushing them to perfection. This pays off with a night at the Apollo Theater, appearance on the Soul Train, and later, an introduction to Berry Gordy. The show then moves onto the beginnings of Michael Jackson as a solo artist with the help of Quincy Jones and the recording of his albums Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad. MJ is unhappy with the way black artists are overlooked on MTV, at awards shows, and mainstream radio, and his quest to be recognized by all of them fuels the drive of perfection instilled by his father.
Act II finds MJ on stage alone where he sings “Billie Jean” and many of the classic dance moves- moonwalk, toe stand, etc…are included in this bit. MJ dances with his heroes – Fred Astaire, Bob Fosse, and the Nicholas Brothers during “Smooth Criminal”. The show continues to flip back and forth, sometimes confusingly so, between the past and present. We see more and more of the abuse and other issues (pills, surgeries, other controversies) that shaped the bizarre behavior personality of The King of Pop. His childlike behavior is represented throughout the production- using a squirt gun on his manager, putting on a red nose for no reason, being tickled, and disguising himself. His desires to present the perfect show drive him to extremes in expenses and production. At one point he exclaims, “If we don’t do it God will give the idea to Prince!” He wants a “toaster lift” that shoots him up in the air (like a piece of toast) to begin the concert but he is warned about expenses and safety. The show concludes with the beginning of the tour.
The musical hangs on the main character MJ, who is portrayed by Jordan Markus. He has the moves, the look, and the voice so perfected at times you will actually think he is Michael Jackson. The crotch grabbing, the “woos”, the spinning, moonwalking, robot dance, and more are all flawlessly expressed by Markus. Young Michael with his purple hat and fringe vest comes off like he just walked out of the Ed Sullivan show performance and onto the PPAC stage. The cast really shores up the rest of the show with their versatility and ability to slip in and out of characters.Other than Jordan Markus, it was very hard to nail down other standouts as they were all great! In total about forty songs, either complete or snippets, some MJ’s, some J5, and some classic songs for story progression, are performed throughout. I thought that the best performance of the night was definitely “Thriller”; from the response of the crowd I think they agreed.
The scenery appears very simple at first but as you begin to really pay attention to you you see just how complex the screens, flyaways, and projections are and give the perfect visual to each scene.
Tonight’s show was at capacity and many of the performances have very limited seating available. If you are a Jackson fan it is a “no-brainer” that you see this.
That’s it for now. You can listen to my podcasts at motifri.com/rootsreportpodcast and find my concert photographs at motifri.com/fuzeksfotos. Thanks for reading and listening. johnfuzek.com