Review # 33: Moulin Rouge!

Hello Bohemians! I am back with another review. This time I will be reviewing Moulin Rouge the musical. Is it "So Exciting" as the show says? Find out in this review! 

Plot: Inspired by the 2001 film starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor, Moulin Rouge tells the story of four essential things: beauty, truth, freedom, and love. The show starts off with a scrappy, young songwriter named Christan and his fellow bohemians trying to write the next spectacular for the Moulin Rouge. While doing so, Christan falls in love with the beautiful Satine, the main performer at the Moulin Rouge. However, Christan is not the only man who falls for Satine. The Duke of Monroth, who helps fund the Moulin Rouge has also fallen for Satine. Now Satine has to make a choice, to be with Christan or the Duke. Will this love triangle get solved? Who will Satine pick? Find out in Moulin Rouge! This story is ever so charming that you will fall in love with its writing. If you want a story filled with passion, romance, and a bit of comedy then you should check out this show. 

Characters: All of the characters in this show had so much energy and passion in them. Christan is this courageous young man who is willing to risk it all for the woman he loves. Proving to her time and time again that all you need is love. Satine is torn as she truly loves Christan, yet Satine would be heartbroken if the Moulin Rouge closes down and she and her friends are left without a job. She also faces another problem other than this difficult love triangle as the show continues. However, Satine fights back for what she really wants. Other characters such as Harold Zidler, The Duke of Monroth, Toulouse-Lautrec, Santiago, and Nini also gave the show some light and heart as the show carries on. 

Songs: All the songs in the musical are some that you might find familiar. Songs such as "Lady Marmalade", "Royals", "Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend", Material Girl", "Single Ladies", "Shutup and Dance", "Heroes", "I Will Always Love You", "Bad Romance" "Roxanne", "Your Song", "Come What May", and many more songs. Despite the lack of originality and using previous songs from other singers, these songs really fit the narrative of the story. The movie did a great job telling the story with some of the songs above but the addition of adding newer songs for the musical helped the show flow better and keep the audience engaged. If you like some of the songs I mentioned above then I definitely think you should look into this show.

Sets: Just as you walk into the theater, the stage is filled with bright lights. As you look above, you can see a giant working windmill to represent the Moulin Rouge and a life-size elephant. During the show, it takes you to places such as the streets of Paris, Satine's beautiful dressing room that overlooks the city, and of course, inside the famous Moulin Rouge. It seems that if you are transported into the city of Paris as you first walk in. Let's just say that there is a reason why Moulin Rouge won best scenic design at the Tony Awards. 

Overall, Moulin Rouge is a gorgeous, must-see musical, especially for fans of the film and for fans who love the songs that I listed above. However, I do have to say if you have children under the age of ten, maybe this is not the show for them as some of the characters have some sexual themes and some of the characters do wear revealing clothing. Otherwise, definitely go get tickets to see Moulin Rouge on Broadway.