Theatre Review: The Bodyguard, Wales Millennium Centre
SUMMARY
Rating: ★★★★
Running Dates: 24 April 2023 - 29 April 2023
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes (including interval)
Keywords: Dance, Romance, Mystery
REVIEW
A head-bopping, jaw dropping, show stopping performance starring pussycat doll, Melody Thornton and Hollyoaks star, Ayden Callaghan.
From the moment the dancers came out in their sparkly outfits and the special effects started, I knew we were in for a good show… and what a good show it was!
We were encapsulated by the production from the very start, opening with an unbelievable rendition of ‘Queen of the Night’. The choreography was phenomenal and left us bopping along to every high energy Whitney inspired performance. This lively number certainly set the tone for the rest of the evening as we were quickly drawn into the mysterious, edge-of-our seat storyline.
The play shows the story of how superstar Rachel (played by Melody Thornton) falls deeply in love with her bodyguard, Frank (played by Ayden Callaghan). Whilst the pair try to navigate their whirlwind romance through the media and various obstacles, they soon discover they have another problem to deal with; Rachel’s stalker.
My favourite scene was the Mayan scene, showing Rachel performing some hit numbers such as ‘Million Dollar Bill’ and ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’. I was so drawn into her astounding vocals and the jaw dropping choreography, I was all the more shocked when things took a turn and Frank was faced with his biggest crisis yet. This was something I really loved about the show, the storyline was so dark but you were so encapsulated by the upbeat numbers that whilst you were toe-tapping away, you forgot the harsh ‘reality’ of what was happening away from the fame that Rachel was enjoying and before you knew it, she was in crisis again.
To say the play was a rollercoaster of emotions is an understatement. To see Rachel balance fame, a career, a family, being a single-mother and a relationship, you really were rooting for her to win it all! And of course, you can’t forget Rachel’s son, Fletcher. His talent at a young age was unbelievable, a real star in the making! Melody Thornton came across as so fiercely independent and so personable, it was evident that her every heartbreak and every success was felt in the theatre by each and every member of the audience. The relationship between Rachel and Frank was clear during Rachel’s heart-breaking performance of ‘I will love you’,
The final number will stay in my mind as one of the best theatre experiences I’ve had so far. The play finished with a catchy rendition of ‘I wanna dance with somebody’ filled with sparkles, acrobatics, great dancing and confetti! The whole audience was encouraged to get up and dance and everyone was in great spirits dancing with each other.
Overall, the storyline was heartwarming, the cast was perfectly chosen and I was totally drawn in throughout. I left with the feel good factor and loving Whitney’s music more than I ever have! I’ve had the soundtrack on repeat all day!
Standout Moment: The finale!
See if: You love great choreography and an edge of your seat storyline
Last Impression: I wanna dance with somebody!
Written by Chloe Wilcox Jones
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