Cleo Higgins in Thriller Live at the Lyric Theatre, London. Picture: Irina Chira
Thriller Live continues at the Lyric Theatre, London.
Since touring the UK in 2007 and then opening at the Lyric Theatre in January 2009, Flying Music’s Thriller Live has become something of a global phenomenon (3,700 performances in 29 countries and a global audience of almost three million).
It’s a demonstration that a relatively simple concept executed well and in the right environment can rival the success of those big musicals players down the road that boast flying helicopters and barricades.
Originally conceived by Adrian Grant, and directed and choreographed by Gary Lloyd, Thriller Live doesn’t really pretend to be anything else than a full-on two-hour concert packed with more than 30 Jackson hits. Including some of the best pop songs ever written, the production kicks off with Jackson 5 numbers – sung by the young and ever-so-talented Kyle Johnson – and navigates through those iconic albums Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad (as well as Jackson’s final studio album, Invincible).
Performing all these musical sequences – and working their socks off – is a group of lead vocalists and a lively ensemble of dancers. New to their ranks this week, and fresh from touring in Thriller Live, is Cleo Higgins making her West End debut. Higgins was something of a child pop star herself, becoming the lead singer – alongside her sisters – with 1980s R&B group Cleopatra at the age of 13. More recently, she was seen as a semi-finalist in BBC1’s The Voice, mentored by Will.i.Am.
Higgins makes quite an impression with her powerful vocals and tight dance moves and her energy levels never seem to dip, despite the fact that the audience on this occasion took a little while to warm up (although they were on their feet and dancing by the end of the evening). However, the singer does need to calm her performance down just a tad – it’s as if she is trying too hard at times, and the end result can appear rather mannered.
There is also a question mark over a couple of the costumes Higgins wears, particularly a low-cut top chosen for the ‘Blame It On the Boogie’ number. The fear of an impending wardrobe malfunction during this sequence certainly distracted several members of the audiences seated in my vicinity.
Joining Higgins as lead vocalists were Haydon Eshun, Ricardo Alfonso, and the rather charming John Moabi, with only David Jordan deliberately creating a visual image of Jackson in set pieces such as ‘Smooth Criminal’, ‘Billie Jean’ and ‘Dangerous’ (the latter of which is a highlight of the whole night).
Alfonso’s vocals are often outstanding, and he injects a tenderness and emotional intensity into his rendition of ‘She’s Out of My Life’. But as the show progressed, and however good the performances on stage were, I have to admit it was really Jackson’s voice I wanted to hear more than any other.
Thriller Live is a slick, well-produced show and remains a gift to the oodles of Jackson fans who cannot get enough of hearing their hero’s songs performed live (the rockin’ band is led by musical supervisor John Maher). In fact, for some of those still mourning Jackson’s death in June 2009, the show has probably provided some therapy too. And if it introduces a new generation to the pop star’s impressive legacy, that’s no bad thing either.
As for me, I am rather grateful to Thriller Live for reminding how much I liked, even loved, Jackson’s music. I’m off to watch the ‘Thriller’ video on YouTube and find my old vinyl copy of Off the Wall.
Lisa Martland
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