Whether audience remembers the Dangerous Tour or only knows of the “persona” of Michael Jackson, MJ the Musical does more than present a retrospective of his popular songs. The complicated story behind the man gives insight into how that performer was more than just the person standing in the spotlight.
Michael Jackson was more than his millions of records sold and numerous awards. His legacy has and will continue for decades to come. From the person who knows Thriller from just the first bar to being able to mimic the falsetto in his ballads, the music has created a legacy that will always be part of pop culture.
On the other side, Michael Jackson, the man, had his flaws. Struggling with personal relationships, battling health demons, and facing the media scrutiny at every turn, the man in the mirror might have been more of a façade than anyone realized.
In MJ the Musical, the battling personas is front and center in the storytelling. While the audience loves the high energy dancing, toe tapping numbers and familiar songs, it is the complicated story that serves as a strong reminder, celebrities are more than a bejeweled glove and a moonwalk across the stage.
While not necessarily the top billing in the Playbill, it is the dance scenes that stand as the captivating character in this musical. Given that the plot follows the rehearsals for the Dangerous Tour, understanding how those movements convey emotions, transitions, and non-verbal cues is vital to the complexities of this show.
In a jukebox musical, it is always curious to see how the creative director weaves songs from different eras into a cohesive plot. One minute, MJ reflects on his first experiences on stage to then standing front and center into a neon filled world with his signature leg kick. Movement is the way that ties those diverse moments together.
The biggest strength of MJ the Musical is the ensemble. While several members have dual roles, those dualities add to the storytelling layers. For example, Devin Bowles, as both Rob and Joe Jackson, switches from nurturer to critic in a blink of an eye. He has people caring for him one minute only to wish that he would disappear the next.
That juxtaposition is key to understanding Michael Jackson’s emotional state. In a word where he longs for stable, even quasi normal, cannot happen because his world is never that way. Wanting more, needing to prove himself, dreaming bigger leads to unattainable goals. The constant chasing is exhausting.
That back and forth between the dream and the reality can be felt in the moments where MJ and Michael appear on stage together. Those moments of the younger pop star who is ready to conquer the world compared to the man who is jaded by the outcome draws people into the scene. No one will truly appreciate the reality of that situation, but people can relate to the moment of past and present colliding. Even with the high energy dance moves, a touch of introspective contemplation is vital for this musical to resonate.
While many people know of Michael Jackson’s upbringing and struggles, two aspects come to life in MJ the Musical that are often overlooked. First, his dance moves and choreography was inspired by some of the greats. Looking back, it might not have been obvious that there were Bob Fosse moves on that stage. Once you see it, you cannot unsee it.
Second, the man had a softer side. It might have been confusing to appreciate, but there was a difference between the persona and reality. Maybe if he had been able to better separate them, he would still be on stage today.
MJ the Musical is currently on a National Tour. It is performing at Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando and will continue onto other cities soon.