MusicalsReviewsWest End/ SOLT venues

Review: MJ the Musical, Prince Edward Theatre

Rating

Excellent

A thrilling tribute to Michael Jackson’s music.

Michael Jackson died on 25 June 2009: it’s one of those moments that you’ll never forget where you were when you heard. I was on a westbound Metropolitan line train when a text flashed up on my old brick phone with the news. At the time, as a teenager, I didn’t realise the impact it would have on the music world. It was only the next day, walking past the Lyric Theatre where Thriller Live was playing and seeing the sea of flowers outside, that it truly sank in how much Michael Jackson meant to people.

Sixteen years later, in a packed Prince Edward Theatre, the audience cheered and clapped as if Michael himself were on stage. MJ the Musical is the closest anyone today will come to seeing the King of Pop perform live, and from the first beat, the crowd was completely enraptured.

The show opens with rehearsals for the Dangerous tour of 1992 to 1993. We meet the adult MJ (Jamaal Fields-Green), whose exacting standards drive both his dancers and himself to perfection. From there, the story moves back in time to the Jackson Five’s early days. On the night I attended, young Michael was played by Benjamin Miglioli, a sensational performer with a remarkable voice and stage presence far beyond his years. We’re also introduced to his infamous father, Joe Jackson (Matt Mills), portrayed as a relentless bully consumed by ambition and greed.

Middle Michael (Mitchell Zhangazha) guides us through the transition from boy wonder to solo superstar. It is never easy to condense a life as vast and complex as Jackson’s into a two-and-a-half-hour show, but this production cleverly does so through the framing device of two journalists granted backstage access to the Dangerous rehearsals. The narrative weaves between past and present, punctuated by an impressive catalogue of hits that span decades.

The musical numbers are spectacular, with high-energy ensemble pieces featuring dazzling choreography and costumes that segue effortlessly into stripped-back, emotional moments. The staging and lighting design are nothing short of breathtaking. The recreation of the Dangerous tour’s opening night, complete with pulsating lights, video projections and thunderous sound, is pure theatrical magic. The costume design is another highlight, featuring all of Michael’s iconic looks, from the fedora and red jacket to the famous bejewelled glove, which earns its own round of delighted applause.

While the ensemble is uniformly strong, it is Miglioli, Zhangazha and Fields-Green who truly shine – a formidable trio who capture Michael’s evolution with depth, charm and authenticity. My plus one for the evening, a lifelong MJ fan, said, “It’s like seeing Michael himself.” I cannot think of a higher compliment than that. Mills also deserves praise for his powerful dual performance as both Joe Jackson and Rob, Michael’s manager, switching seamlessly between menace and control.

MJ the Musical is not just a jukebox show; it is a thrilling, heartfelt tribute that celebrates the genius, the drive and the mystery of one of music’s most extraordinary figures.


Director & Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon
Writer: Lynn Nottage
Scenic Design: Derek McLane
Lighting Design: Natasha Katz
Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
Sound Design: Gareth Owen
Projection Design: Peter Nigrini
Wig & Hair Design: Charles G. LaPointe
Musical Supervision: David Holcenberg
Orchestrations & Arrangements: David Holcenberg, Jason Michael Webb

MJ the Musical will play at the Prince Edward theatre until Saturday 28 February and then embarks on a UK tour in 2027.

Harriet Ruggiano

Harriet is a leader in education specialising in secondary music. She is passionate about the arts and committed to widening access to creative opportunities for young people. Harriet has a particular love for musicals, new writing in fringe productions, and performances aimed at young audiences.

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