Diamonds, Drama & Big Voices: Burlesque Shines at Wales Millennium Centre
There are some films that feel almost impossible to translate to the stage. Burlesque is not one of them.
Last night we were at the Wales Millennium Centre last night to review the brand-new musical adaptation of the much-loved 2010 film, and if you are a fan of the original, this production delivers pretty much everything you could want from a night of Burlesque.
Starring Faye Brookes as Tess, Gracie O’Brien as Ali and Ryan Carter as Sean, the show brings the glamour, drama, music and unapologetic sparkle of the original film to the stage in a production that feels remarkably true to its source material.
Gracie O’Brien is a particular standout as Ali. She has an absolute powerhouse of a voice and handles the big musical moments with confidence, giving the character the ambition and determination that makes her journey so enjoyable to watch.
“Sequins, Sass & Showstoppers”
Ryan Carter as Sean knows exactly how to keep the energy moving. His performance brings plenty of warmth and momentum to the production, while Faye Brookes proves why she is such a force on the stage. Every time she stepped into the spotlight, she commanded the entire theatre. There is a real presence to her performance as Tess that is difficult to ignore.
A special mention, though, has to go to Vanessa Eli Young as Nikki.
Every time she appeared for a number, I found myself completely drawn to her. She exuded everything you would expect from Burlesque. There was attitude, glamour and an undeniable stage presence that made it impossible to look anywhere else. She absolutely understood the assignment.
Now, I do need to caveat my five-star review with what happened during the first act.
Around 20 minutes into the show, the performance came to a stop. The curtain came down and the audience was informed that there were technical issues. In any theatre, that could be enough to cause concern. The audience can become restless, and on this occasion some people did begin to leave the auditorium.
But what happened next was rather lovely.
The majority of this audience were completely locked in. They were committed to the show and clearly wanted to see it through. When the house lights eventually went back down and the performance resumed, the auditorium erupted in cheers and applause.
If anything, it felt like the response gave the cast a renewed burst of confidence. They came back out and absolutely performed the hell out of the next number. What could have been an awkward interruption became a moment that seemed to bring the cast and audience even closer together.
For me, the second act is where the show really hits its stride. It is faster-paced, the momentum is stronger and, overall, I found the songs more engaging than those in the first half. That said, it would be impossible not to mention the obvious highlight of the opening act: Welcome to Burlesque. Hearing that number performed live in this setting is a real treat.
What impressed me most about this adaptation is just how much it still feels like Burlesque. We have seen plenty of films make the jump to the musical theatre stage, but not all of them manage to retain the spirit of the original. This one does.
With music from Christina Aguilera herself, perhaps that should come as no surprise. The production understands what audiences fell in love with in the first place and builds on it rather than trying to reinvent the wheel.
And ultimately, this is a show that knows exactly what it wants to be.
It is glamorous, loud, fun and full of big performances. It is for fans of the film, fans of burlesque and, frankly, anyone who just wants a really good night out at the theatre.
Despite the technical hiccup, the audience stayed with it, the cast came back fighting and the show finished on a high.
This one has definitely got legs.
Fancy seeing what all the fuss is about? Burlesque is bringing its sequins, showstopping vocals and plenty of attitude to Wales Millennium Centre from 1–5 September. Tickets are available now via the Wales Millennium Centre website.
