I went to see “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” on Tuesday night, and it provided the warmth and excitement I needed to get through the blistery and violently cold weather we’ve been having here in Indianapolis.
The first North American Tour of “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” is currently onstage at the Murat Theatre at Old National Center Jan. 14-19. Based on the 2001 film, “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” debuted on Broadway in 2019 won 10 Tony Awards in 2021.
The musical follows Christian (Christian Douglas), an American songwriter who travels to Paris to find himself. Instead, he finds Toulouse-Lautrec (Nick Rashad Burroughs) and Santiago (Danny Burgos), who lead him to the illustrious Moulin Rouge club where he meets and falls for Satine (Arianna Rosario), a tragically beautiful cabaret singer. A secret whirlwind romance ensues, as it so often does, as they race to save the club with the production of a new show.
I love theater as much as the next gal, but this was the first time I’ve ever seen any iteration of “Moulin Rouge!” I’ve never seen the movie, listened to the soundtrack or seen the musical before last night.
Part of the allure of the arts is exposing yourself to something new, is it not?
I did read the Wikipedia summary a few days before the show, brought a friend (who has seen it) and hoped for the best.
But let’s be honest, if you’ve seen the show before, then you know walking into “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” essentially blind is hilarious. At least, I thought it was. And so did my friend. Walking into a show blind is always a risk, but as an arts and culture reporter, it’s one I take frequently. (Most often, it yields wonderful rewards).
I had one expectation for “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” based on what I did know, and that was high-energy, sexy, old-fashioned Broadway-style top dance numbers. And boy, did this cast deliver.
This is a spoiler free review, but for those who don’t know, “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” is campy — eccentric, outrageous, exuberant, absurd. It’s fantastically humorous and delightful. It uses a blend of iconic songs from the movie and more modern pop songs from the likes of Rihanna, Adele, Katy Perry, Tina Turner and so, so much more.
From the bright, colorful sets, paired with romantic lighting and dazzling backdrops to really bring both the Moulin Rouge club and Paris to life to the most gorgeous, vibrant and unique costumes and hair styles that only got better as the show continued.
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The cast invites you into the world of the Moulin Rouge with enticing characters and stunning vocals. The plot of the musical is fun; it’s quirky, a little bit sad, cliché even.
However, if someone was on that stage dancing, I was NOT paying attention to the dialogue or plot or whatever else was going on. The ensemble of “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” did not come to play … only for the orchestra to top it off by breathing the most electrifying life into this show through theatrical renditions of pop songs.
There is love woven into every aspect of this show, and you can feel that from every seat in the room.
Talent-wise, this cast is what my generation would call “stacked.”
I won’t spend too long talking about the importance of representation in theater (because I already have) but it is refreshing to see a show of this renown come through with such extraordinary talent spread across diverse faces and bodies. Truly beautiful and thoughtful work was done on the Murat Theatre stage.
I’ve never had so much fun at a show. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again until more people see the vision: theater doesn’t always have to be serious! Of course, serious shows have their place in our community, but unserious shows like “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” are what bring people joy.
“Moulin Rouge! The Musical” is onstage at the Murat Theatre at Old National Centre now through Jan. 19. The show runs approximately two hours and 35 minutes with one 18-minute intermission.
“Moulin Rouge! The Musical” is not what I would call a family show. It features mature themes, revealing costumes and adult language. Leave kiddos under 12 at home for this one, yeah?
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit indianapolis.broadway.com/shows/moulin-rouge.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.