Theatre / jackson 5
Review: Thriller, Hippodrome
Fast-paced, slick and in-your-face: all fair ways of describing Thriller Live, which delighted a packed audience at the Hippodrome on Monday night.
From the very start of this polished stage show all about the ‘King of Pop’, we all knew we were in for a treat. The lights literally blinded the crowd as they pumped out their rays to the tune of the contagious beats when the performers first burst onto the stage with History.
There wasn’t a hit left unturned as we were taken back to the Jackson 5 years as well as Michael’s solo hits, including slow ballads like She’s Out of my Life as well as the classics like Rock with You.
Every single theatre-goer obeyed instructions to get on their feet and wave their arms in the air like they just didn’t care at several points during the night, and the screams could doubtless be heard for miles around when Sean Christopher came on in the classic white suit and did his impeccable moonwalk moves.
In fact every single performer was a star in their own right – but special mention must go to Rory Taylor, who hit some incredibly tough notes with ease. His voice was the sort of beautiful gift that makes the hairs on your arms stand on end.
Once the second half kicked off with Wanna be Startin’ Somethin’, you realised the first half was just a very impressive warm-up for the rest of this delightful evening. Beat It, Billie Jean and Black or White were all stop-you-in-your-tracks hits, but the best part of the whole night has to be the passion that went into Dirty Diana and the sheer choreographic brilliance of Smooth Criminal. Not one step was out of place, not one note out of sync.
Even if you’re not a Michael Jackson fan, you would find this show to be up there with the best of them.
Thriller continues at the Hippodrome until Sat, Feb 20. For more info, visit www.atgtickets.com/shows/thriller-live-2/bristol-hippodrome
Top pic: Cleo Higgins, photographed by Irina Chira
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