02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Moulin Rouge opens in Edinburgh and, ooh la la, c'est magnifique
Moulin Rouge, Edinburgh Playhouse Reviewed on April 30 2025 *****
FABULEUX, fantastique, formidable - just three of a plethora of French adjectives to describe this incredible musical.
In a world of grey gloom this is a veritable kaleidoscope with costumes and performances all rich in colour.
Numbers like Toxic, Firework and the Sound of Music may not be an obvious soundtrack for a musical set in the Victorian era but somehow it works.
And the voices of the leads, Verity Thompson as Satine and Nate Landskroner as Christian, were an absolute joy to listen to; deliciously rich with an impressive range.
Love was the undisputed, overriding theme, however, and the blend of their voices in Come What May was a genuine treat.
Courtesans, dukes and bohemians combine in this Baz Luhrmann piece set in the world famous Moulin Rouge where the dances are risque with plenty of 'extras'.
Unlike many touring shows this one comes with all the bells and whistles from the sumptuous costumes to the most amazing sets and lighting design serving the Edinburgh audiences a West End spectacular.
Right from the opening scene there was an explosion of colour and movement and the choreography was utterly insane.
The can-can dancers in particular prompted gasps with their gigantic leaps into floor landing splits. The fact they were not carried off in ambulances afterwards was a miracle of physics and physique.
Almost as impressive were the massive ensemble dance routines which were clearly rehearsed to within an inch of their lives but still managed to look almost free flowing - just exactly what you would expect from a Bohemian troupe.
In every production there is a show stealer but with each member of the cast and ensemble so impressive it is difficult to single out one actor. The leads were insanely good but honourable mentions need to go to Cameron Blakely's Harold Zidler and Johnny Galeandro's sleazy Santiago who provided the comic relief.
Needless to say, don't miss it - if you can still manage to get a ticket - for what is genuinely a spectacular spectacular.
• Runs until June 14
