THE BODYGUARD THE MUSICAL | UK TOUR @ EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE
★★★
“Thrilling, with a jukebox soundtrack of anthems…”
Opening with a bang and a series of impressive projections, the cinematic nature of Michael Harrison and Crossroads Live’s production of The Bodyguard The Musical slickly introduces six-time Grammy-winner, singer Rachel Marron. Fiery and flaming, it’s a breath-taking introduction to the Queen of the Night and the start of a thrilling exploration of the vulnerability of celebrity.
Based on the 1992 Warner Bros screenplay by Lawrence Kasden, Alexander Dinelaris’ book remains true to his source material: At the height of her fame, Rachel Marron’s next challenge is to win an Oscar for her songwriting. However, as the big night approaches, a star-studded event that will see her perform at the prestigious Award ceremony, trouble is brewing. Unbeknownst to the singer, a stalker has already accessed her dressing room, leaving behind a threatening letter that includes an ‘i’ dotted with blood.
Enter Frank Farmer, bodyguard to the rich and famous, though not normally celebrities. Through the profiling skills of his CIA contacts, Farmer quickly establishes that threat to Rachel and her 10-year-old son, Fletcher, is more real than anyone imagines and that if he is to have any chance of saving them, he has to act fast… the problem is, his new client doesn’t quite share his concerns.
As Rachel Marron, Sidonie Smith may not have the stage-presence of some of her predecessors, but instead gives a light, confident performance that showcases her powerful vocals, which occasionally suffer from unexpected phrasing that allows lyrics to become garbled at points. That said, by the time she hits the big show-stopping number at the end of the show, Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You, she is impervious. Starting simply, it quickly builds, Smith delivering a technically perfect rendition of the song.
Even Adam Garcia gets a shot at that song, although his strained karaoke version is very definitely played for laughs and, rightly, receives them. Throughout, Garcia brings a warm vulnerability to the troubled Farmer and an easy chemistry that sparks with both Smith and Mason Dyett as Fletcher, a show-stealing turn from the young actor who boasts a very natural stagecraft.
Great support also comes from Sasha Monique as Nicki Marron, with arguably the best voice in the show – her delivery of Saving All My Love for You is beautifully textured, warm, resonant and emotion packed.
While director Thea Sharrock ensures the story zips along at pace, the momentum drops in Act II and sees a couple of the scarier moments approached so melodramatically that they elicit laughter. That said, James-Lee Harris is never less than sinister as Marron’s crazed Stalker. Doubling as the production’s dance captain, he uses his movement skills to glide in and out of the action almost unnoticed.
Tim Hatley’s set design uses a clever arrangement of curtains to allow for slick scene changes but often leaves a lot of space to fill which, in the big numbers Karen Bruce’s choreography is often found lacking, thankfully, lighting designer Mark Henderson is on his ‘A Game’, classy, vibrant and lively it’s quite spectacular.
With a jukebox soundtrack of Houston favourites – Greatest Love of All, How Will I Know, I’m Every Woman, I Wanna Dance With Somebody are also all in the mix – played with a buoyant zeal by a five-piece orchestra ‘under the baton’ of musical director Charlie Ingles, each proves an anthem in its own right and never fail to stir the emotions, giving the audience all the excuse they need to get to their feet for the obligatory, high energy, end of show medley.
Full tour and ticket details HERE
