Moulin Rouge- Piccadilly Theatre

Spectacular, spectacular! Welcome chickens, to the Moulin Rouge. Inspired by the 2001 Baz Luhrmann film of the same name, Moulin Rouge tells the story of a poor American Bohemian poet in 1890s Paris, who falls in love with the beautiful courtesan, who is the 'sparking diamond' of the aforementioned nightclub, also coveted by a jealous duke. Although a potentially thin plot, it's no smooth ride: with plenty of twists set against the glamourous backdrop of 1899 Paris, that more than makes up for any perceived shortcomings.

The real beauty of this production is its sets, designed by Derek McLane. Right from entering the auditorium, it is clear that this is one of, if not the best, dressed theatre in the West End; the lavish staging extending around both sides of the stalls really adds to the immersion that you are at the real Moulin Rouge nightclub, complete with red windmill and blue elephant adorning the circle boxes. All the set changes for the next two and three quarter hours are absolutely breath-taking, bathed in gorgeous lighting design by Justin Townsend to showcase all their glory. Equally stunning are the incredible costumes by Catherine Zuber, which always make the cast look suitably spectacular, from Bohemians to courtesans.

The cast themselves are a force to be reckoned with, particularly the ensemble, who more than carry the preshow, and visually incredible dance numbers choreographed by Sonya Tayeh. Matt Rixon gives a charismatic and flirtatious Harold Zidler, captivating the audience and cast accordingly. Ben Richards is outstanding as the Duke, clearly revelling in the change to play the dashing yet possessive villain, whilst Ian Carlyle and, at this performance, Ross Chisari delight as the real double act Bohemians - Toulouse-Lautrec and Santiago respectively.

Dom Simpson is outstanding as Christian, the poor American writer who falls in love with Satine. Simpson fully encapsulates the undeterred, yet unpolished beauty of Christian's yearning for the courtesan through some of the finest acting and a stellar voice, particularly evident during the Gnarls Barkley and Adele mashup 'Crazy Rolling' and the Elton John classic 'Your Song'. Making her grand entrance descending from the heavens like a dazzling goddess, is Tanisha Spring, as the ill-fated Satine. Boasting a powerhouse voice and a hugely versatile emotional range, Spring is the embodiment of the sparkling diamond she is portraying.

The real testament of both the source film and this stage production is the incredible music, from the original standout 'Come What May' to the many pop mashups of the last 20 years. Some notable pieces include the reworking of Rhianna's 'Only Girl', by Richard's Duke, Carlyle's hauntingly spine-tingling rendition of David Bowie's 'Nature Boy', and the Walk the Moon/ P!nk hybrid 'Shut Up and Raise Your Glass'. By far the greatest moment of the show has to be one of the greatest Act 2 openers: Backstage Romance, which builds and builds in a flourish of dazzling beauty, leaving you gasping long after the curtain has fallen.

Ultimately, Moulin Rouge is theatre at its finest: nearly three hours of pure escapism, full of charm, boasting over 100 truly iconic songs to supplement a charming cast of characters that draw you in and leave you emotionally spent as the show draws to a close, set of the most exquisite stage in the West End. Bohemians, you'd be a fool to miss this spectacular spectacular!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐