REVIEW: The Bodyguard The Musical - Liverpool Empire Theatre

Alexandra Burke has been busy since her rise to fame back in 2008 when she won the fifth series of The X Factor. I was keen to see whether her performance had that Je ne sais quoi aspect to it and I was not disappointed.

Alexandra Burke plays lead Rachel Marron

Based on Lawrence Kasdan's original screenplay, the movie hit our screens back in 1992 with the late Whitney Houston as the lead.  26 year old Alexandra Burke was just a youngster back then and incidentally, Houston was one of her sources of inspiration when it came to singing. As per the film, the musical tells the story of former secret service agent, turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer who is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. 

Alexandra Burke's portrayal of Rachel Marron in the musical is a much younger diva-esque, edgier version.  She arrives on stage belting out Queen of the night as her opening number. It is powerful, energetic and explosive. With a troupe of talented dancers at her side along with the dazzling set and it's pyrotechnic display, it is a feast for the eyes and quite breathtaking. Although I was towards the rear of the theatre, the heat of the flames could be felt.

Alexandra Burke opening number - Photo Credit Paul Coltas

Stuart Reid who plays Frank Farmer is a graduate of Liverpool Institute for performing arts (LIPA) The chemistry between him and Burke was wonderful. His stage presence was fantastic and he performed the role of Farmer impeccably. I'm sure that Kevin Costner would have approved. He was fantastic throughout.

Alexandra Burke and Stuart Reid

Whilst it seemed to take until the second act for the characters roles to have been established, each cast member was worthy of commendation fromthe start. Rachel Marron's 10 year old son was played by the talented Max Fincham. As well as being utterly adorable, he was proficient in his role as Fletcher, his American accent, execution of the choreography and overall stage presence was quite remarkable in view of his tender years.

The set is outstanding, with the excellent use of lighting and convincing props, the audience felt as though they were actually in Rachel Marron's mansion. It was undeniably one of the best set designs that I have encountered in all my years of theatre-going.

Photo Credit: Paul Coltas

Rachel John plays Nicki Marron (Rachel Marron's sister). Her voice is outstanding and her portrayal as the understudy to her more successful sister stunning.

The musical is able to cleverly create suspense and panic among the audience as they witness Rachel's life in danger. It is tense and the energy is high. Through its clever use of projected images and creative lightning, the result is a captivated and engaged crowd eager to see what happens next. 

This was a wonderful trip down memory lane for me. I lip-synced throughout (no audible sound left my lips for fear of ruining the experience for those around me). It was welcomed when at the  end, the audience were encouraged to get up on their feet and sing along.Numbers which were highlights for me included "Run to you" and "I have nothing".  With duets by John and Burke, I felt the goosebumps on my arms and the hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention. Spine tingling stuff. The show even included Whitney songs that did not appear in the original screenplay, such as "Million Dollar Bill" The songs were worthy of inclusion.

Alexandra Burke and Stuart Reid. Photo Credit: Paul Coltas

This production was superb, the two hours flew by and that is a testament to the cast and direction of the show. Expect tears and expect to be "so emotional" as you watch the story unfold. This is without question a must- see. Whether you have seen the original screenplay or not,  there is a high probability that you will be overly-enamoured with this delightful show.

The Bodyguard completes it's two week run at the Empire on Saturday 7th May. Tickets can be purchased here