The air was thick with anticipation as people entered D.C.’s National Theatre for “MJ the Musical,” and the production running until Sept. 8, did not disappoint. Jamaal Fields-Green is Michael Jackson, surrounded by a fantastic cast that takes on multiple roles throughout the musical. The story tells how Michael and his brothers developed their music careers under the stern oversight of their father, Joe Jackson. Mother Katherine Jackson is on the sideline, showing love and compassion to Michael, who gets the brunt of his father’s criticism.
Audiences expecting “MJ” to be a Michael Jackson concert will hopefully not be disappointed. The musical moves between a current-day preparation for a tour in the early 1990s and flashbacks about the start of Jackson’s music career and family dynamic. Many much-loved songs are performed, but many take on new meanings as they illustrate Michael’s genuine emotions as his career evolves.
Fields-Green has the moves and powerfully interprets Michael’s singing style. He also has the emotional muscle to deliver all the ups, downs, joy, and insecurity Michael probably experienced. Jordan Markus, also a beautiful singer, plays Michael as he moves from teen idol to the young adult phase of the entertainer’s trajectory. Here again, how Markus portrays Michael shows the up-and-coming “King of Pop” moving toward independence. Both actors are believable as Michael.Devin Bowles plays the dual roles of Rob, the tour manager and Joseph Jackson, the family patriarch. Rob is a frustrated character who has to manage Michael’s need for perfection through multiple last-minute and costly adjustments to this tour. Bowles gives us a difficult time accepting Joseph Jackson. Bowles morphs smoothly between the Joseph and Rob characters. Lynn Nottage, who wrote the book for MJ, had a lot of material to work from, including news accounts and collaborating with the Michael Jackson Estate. Christopher Wheeldon is both the director and choreographer for “MJ.” The dance numbers are spectacular, which is an understatement. Kudos to one of the hardest-working casts I have ever witnessed in a musical.
An insightful dance sequence is where Michael honors his dance influences: Fred Astaire, a film actor and dancer; Broadway genius Bob Fosse, and the Nicholas Brothers, who were smooth, acrobatic tap dancers. Derek McLane, a two-time Tony and Emmy Award winner, is the scenic designer. Seven-time Tony winner Natasha Katz is the lighting designer. Together, they create astonishing boom and splash moments in “MJ” that make us want more. The effects are colorful, jagged, explosive, and jaw-dropping, as they need to be. “MJ the Musical” is an exciting time at the theater. For ticket information, go to broadwayatthenational.com.
Source: Washington Informer
