The international, award-winning smash-hit musical The Bodyguard is back at the Wales Millennium Centre!
The latest production sees the story of The Bodyguard return to theaters following a sellout tour in the UK and Ireland in 2018/19, now in its third season. Having toured five continents and delivered an astounding twenty-two different productions around the world, we can safely say the audience loves it.
This year, we see Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton play fictional soul superstar Rachel Marron together with Ayden Callaghan (Emmerdale, Hollyoaks) as Frank Farmer, the ex-secret service agent turned bodyguard.
For those familiar with the Oscar-nominated 1992 film starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, you will recollect the story of a young singer-songwriter on the road to global superstardom with a sociopath stalker in the midst. Worlds collide when a new bodyguard is hired to overhaul security and protect the singer, but following a not so easy start with a less than impressed Ms Marron, the two end up in a romantic relationship. The bodyguard who ends up breaking his own rule of ‘never get too close’ has to make a difficult decision in order to protect not just the star but her young son Fletcher too.
Taking this to the stage was always going to be a challenge, but they pull it off superbly. Transferring what is a well-known film to the theatre is always difficult, not only because you have people attending with high expectations, but the storyline isn’t a simple one either. What we can say is that Thea Sharrock, who is the youngest artistic director in British Theatre not only took on what she thought was “an exceptionally terrible idea” but managed to adapt the story perfectly for the stage.
In the film for instance, the stalker takes a somewhat back seat, rarely seen and is primarily just a character in the background of this love story. However, in order to bring this to the stage, he has been given more of a pivotal role, both on stage and off it through projection clips to show the inner workings of his plans. Likewise, Nicki Marron (Rachel’s sister) is given a slightly different role to that of the movie’s character, where this is a more prominent love-triangle with the bodyguard.
We learn more of Nicki’s backstory, and the early days of her own singing career, which helps to fill in a few blanks. Unfortunately, this all comes to a tragic end, and you can’t help but feel sorry for her, despite her earlier confession.
Having watched the film many times and this being the first time seeing it on stage, I was a bit skeptical how the producers might be able to pull off the complicated storyline. Of course, many will see this as a bit of a chick-flick, but it is ultimately a sensational dramatic piece with exaggerated characters (it just has to be), it’s also full of existing events intended to appeal to all emotions and audiences.
Putting Melody Thornton (Rachel) and Emily-Mae (Nicki)’s captivating vocals and absolutely sensational performances to one side, no expense has been spared on the staging and production of this musical. As soon as the curtain rises from the start, you are blown away by the power of the music, the lights, the singing and dancing of all those involved. It’s like being at a very intimate rock concert complete with pyrotechnics and all, something that you’d expect from a high production value performance.
Interwoven throughout the production and with Orchestra accompaniment led by Chris Egan, are of course some well known Whitney Houston smash hits such as I Have Nothing, Run to You, I’m Every Woman and I Will Always Love You. With songs so well known that the audience will want to sing along, theatre goers are reminded they’ll “have a chance to shine” in the finale, in an attempt to prevent a recurrence of the show being stopped like what happened in Birmingham earlier this month. The announcement certainly got a few laughs from the audience.
The costumes were perfect, from the glitz and glam of the stage and red carpet to the cozy looks whilst in the comfort of their homes Tim Hatley got the outfits spot on. How the crew managed the quick costume change at the end we have no idea.
A show suitable for the whole family, but perhaps one we’d recommend for the older children and adults.
The Bodyguard Musical is currently showing at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff until Saturday, 29 April 2023. For more information to book tickets, click here.
The tour will then continue on to His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen in May.
Age guidance: 10+ (no under 2s). Please note that flashing lights (including strobe lighting) and loud sound effects (including gun shots) feature in the production.
Running Time: Approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes (including 1 interval)
