Moulin Rouge! A Review

I have seen plenty of Broadway musicals, but I have never seen one before everyone else I know. That changed this past weekend, when I saw Moulin Rouge!, in preview at the Al Hirschfeld Theater in New York City.

My desire to emulate my friend Kris (who writes amazing, thoughtful reviews of shows she sees), along with the fact that I have not posted on this blog in almost two months, has prompted me to write my own review of this brand-new musical before the world has seen it. At worst, it will be a middling success in New York. I predict, however, that it will be a smash hit. Opening night is tonight, so time will tell…

Yes, it’s based on the movie, Moulin Rouge

I saw the 2001 Moulin Rouge movie on the VCR in my family room, most likely in an exhausted haze after my infant and toddler had finally fallen asleep. I did not love it. I thought the mashup of original, Broadway-esque style songs with contemporary music was odd, and I did not like the casting of Nicole Kidman as the lead, Satine. Ewan McGregor was okay as Christian, but neither actor had the presence I demand in my musical leads.  

I saw Moulin Rouge! with my friend and her eighteen year old daughter, both of whom are fans of Moulin Rouge the movie. The last of our quartet was my almost twenty-one year old daughter, who has never seen the movie and had never heard of or saw Moulin Rouge in any form before the show. 

So what did two movie fans, one complete newcomer, and one skeptical attendee think of the musical Moulin Rouge? 

We all loved it. 

The plot

Set in Paris at the turn of the 20th century, Moulin Rouge! is the story of Satine, a courtesan and the theater’s star performer, and Christian, an American writer seeking success in the City of Lights. Completing the love triangle is the Duke of Monroth, who demands Satine’s company in exchange for financially backing the struggling theater.  

The set and costumes

The stage is set as the audience enters the theater, and the entire venue is transformed into the Moulin Rouge cabaret. As showtime approaches, ensemble members venture out onto stage, strutting and warming up in full costume. Movie fans will remember the elephant and the windmill; both are huge pieces of scenery on the edges of the stage. The light is dim and tinged red, and the light fog makes the audience feel like they are part of something seductive, secretive, and fascinating. 

The costumes are Tony-worthy – both the ones worn during the show within a show performances, and the period pieces. Hats, headpieces, gowns, flowing negligees and gender-fluid formal wear all contribute to the glitz and mystique of Moulin Rouge. Sometimes barely any costume was needed – why put on lots of clothes to do acrobatics next to an elephant statue?

The music 

Moulin Rouge the Musical! has upwards of eighty songs, although many are just a few lines or a verse. While there are some original songs from the movie, most are contemporary tunes that almost everyone will know. I knew them all, and my daughter knew all but one Rolling Stones cover. 

Interestingly, these mashups of original and current songs turned me off in the movie version. They felt forced and odd. Yet live on a Broadway stage, the music totally worked. Every time a new song began, the audience murmured in appreciation and recognition. The score was like a treasure hunt, uncovering new but familiar gems every few minutes. I was tapping my feet and singing in my head, and the young woman next to me actually played air drums a few times. 

The actors 

As I expected, the actors were Broadway caliber. The voices were fabulous and the dancing amazing. I’m sure doing the can-can is quite a feat of physical endurance and flexibility, but the ensemble make it look effortless. Aaron Tveit is earnest and soulful as Christian, and his vocal range is impressive. Karen Olivo played Satine with a combination of sultriness and wistfulness that made me ache for her happy ending. These are the leads I demand in my Broadway musicals. They can carry the show, although they didn’t have to do it alone. Each of the cast members is exceptional. 

Final thoughts on Moulin Rouge!

One of my favorite things about the show was the combination of old-school musical numbers and contemporary music and lyrics. It has the drama and angst of traditional Broadway shows, but it doesn’t take itself too seriously. There are moments of levity and wit to balance the moments of sadness and conflict, and the scope of the set and score is astounding. I’m not sure what the cast recording is going to look like with over 70 songs, but I’m definitely going to download it.

If you like a musical, you’ll like Moulin Rouge. I didn’t like the movie, and I loved the show. My friend loved the movie, and the show lived up to her expectations. My daughter was just hoping we didn’t choose a dud, and she loved it too.  

I like to be swept away when I see a show, and Moulin Rouge does that. It is truly a feast for the eyes and ears. For two and a half hours, the audience is transported back to the glamour and grit of a Bohemian Paris. Even if you know how the story ends, you’ll have a wonderful time getting there.