You can’t Beat it Show reminds you of phenomenal star
NEXT year, it will be ten years since Michael Jackson’s untimely death. But his remarkable legacy lives on, and this stellar performance of Thriller - Live, a dazzling homage to the greatest entertainer all of time, reaffirmed his unrivalled place in musical history, with the enthralled capacity audience savouring every last note.
Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough, and we did, kicked off an electrifying celebration of the man who left us far too soon in 2009.
It didn’t stop until two incredible hours had passed, following a scintillating tour of around 30 of the King of Pop’s greatest hits, rolling back the decades to his earliest days, through the Motown years and the disco era to the mid-1990s.
All present and spellbindingly correct were those iconic poses and fedora hats, glittering outfits, that gravity-defying lean and a convincing Michael Jackson lookalike.
Add to that a large side-order of moonwalking, breakdancing, incredi- bly athletic dancers, and even virtuoso turns by the band’s lead guitarists, the entire spectacle was a musical and visual feast.
Indeed, the vocals became almost incidental at times, with my attention focusing constantly on the high-octane dance formations, especially during Dangerous, Smooth Criminal and Off The Wall.
With not a fingertip, sequin or spotlight out of place, the choreographer, costume designer and the lighting team all deserve awards.
Shake Your Body had the audience on its feet, while the delicious Rock With You and gentler She’s Out Of My Life were calm and sweet water oases amid all the raw energy.
For me, however, the evening was crowned by an emotionally charged rendition of the stirring Earth Song,
which drove its powerful message home and made for a triumphant finale.
Spearheading the encores, Billie Jean and Bad whipped up the boogie once more, and the immortal Thriller
brought the house down in a faithful re-creation of that legendary video, with several ghouls emerging from the aisles and terrorising the front stalls, before clawing their way onto the stage.
Summoning up all remaining reserves of strength, the razor-sharp 15-strong cast took the whole juggernaut home with the uplifting Black or White, reminding us once again of the extraordinary phenomenon that was the unique Michael Jackson.
Could we feel it? Yes, we could; good times all round.
For me, however, the evening was crowned by an emotionally charged rendition of the stirring Earth Song