MJ The Musical

(seen at the afternoon performance on 8th August 2024). Some actors have now left the cast.

To establish a baseline, the monkey was never bothered that it didn’t see Michael Jackson live in 1988 when it had the opportunity. Sure, it admires “Thriller” as an outstanding pop video of all-time (it also admired a boy at school who bought it on VHS from Woolworths and tripled his investment renting it out). It also likes some of the Jackson family back catalogue because, well, who doesn’t. But, honestly MJ, it could take or leave.

In this spirit, it feels it can take an objective view of this show. Objectively, then, it felt that the first half is really pretty damn good. 1992 tour rehearsals, observed by a wily journalist Rachel (Philippa Stefani in compellingly gruesome seductive deception mode) and her cameraman.

Talking to MJ (Tavio Wright at this performance) many intelligent, often moving, flashbacks to his early home and performing life may not reveal anything we didn’t know - but are intelligent and interesting. A duet of “I’ll Be There” between young son and mother a particular high point.

Writer Lynn Nottage intersperses credible rehearsal scenes with these. By allowing Christopher Wheeldon to both direct and choreograph, past and present melt effortlessly into each other, aided by actors doubling characters in the tale. One shrug of a jacket and a father becomes a producer mid-conversation.

The concept is very fine and by the end of the first half the monkey felt it was viewing a highly superior biographical jukebox musical.

Inexplicably, the second half abandons the informative, investigative structure for the most part and the show loses it shape. Lengthy performance interludes delight fans but leave those enjoying learning more about his life somewhat confused.

A well-staged “Thriller” routine is a false ending; the inexplicably crassly mounted coda which dissipates emotion at a single revolve should probably have happened before it. Trimming 10 minutes off the running time and leaving us on a high with the most famous dance sequence as a finale seems preferable.

As it stands we do not get catharsis, and those who are unfamiliar with the story are left wondering about the much pushed legal impact of the loan-notes signed as well as why a simple explanation of what actually happened was left out.

This is well mounted technically. Derek McLane’s set design is as versatile as the performers, as economical as Jackson was flamboyant. Natasha Katz intrigued the monkey by lowering in a whole bank of lights just offstage in the wings for one scene. Not something it had seen before but an effective use of space and a lovely technique.

Sadly, Gareth Owen’s sound design defeated the lyric at times, failing to balance vocal and music demands so that words were lost to the front stalls corner. Not an issue for fans who knew every word, a problem for those of us who did not.

Still, the main point is that the show reflects the philosophy of its subject. Give the audience the best you can, remember that the music is above all, and in life nothing is going to help you when the beast does come out to bite.

For MJ fans, you can’t beat it as a night out. For non-fans, it’s as slick as anything in the West End and a good “date night” choice for those seeking a less heavy but well-executed show.

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Add Your Own Review

Dress Circle Slips Box 2 seat 3: Had to lean on padded rail to see sometimes. Good legroom. Decent view for the money. Seat 4 is best view.

Dress Circle Slips Box 1 seat 4: Had to lean on padded rail to see sometimes. Good legroom. Decent view for the money. For MJ it would be better to sit on opposite side of the theatre. Seat 4 is best view.

Broadway John.
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Thursday 23rd May 2024, Matinee.
Stalls U26-29: very clear view of whole stage but not not much of a rake so if you are short behind a tall person this could be an issue.

Saw "Thriller Live" 10+ years ago and was looking forward to this show. Enjoyed it - but wasn't wowed. Performances were good, but it's all set in a rehearsal studio for the 'Dangerous' tour, with some flashbacks to MJ's childhood and his time performing with his brothers.

Thought the Fosse dance scene dragged.

Would have liked less rehearsal story and more concert performance scenes, as the "Thriller" performance towards the end was incredible - so seemed a shame to waste the dancers just doing 'warm ups' in the background during the story scenes.

The security staff doing security bag checks were very welcoming and friendly at this theatre - at previous theatres I have found them quite abrupt, so special mention to them.

Highly recommend for food close by 'Old Compton Brasserie,' for their £15 lunch deal including a beer/wine/soft drink. 
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This has been a long booked trip to London this weekend to see MJ. My interest was piqued as it was set with the Dangerous Tour, this was the first stadium concert I ever went to and have great memories of being down near the front at Cardiff Arms Park; Jacko and his show blew me away.

So we shall get past the obvious pedantry that rehearsals for the tour had a large group of dancers (in reality 4 shared the stage with him, all men) and a large group of backing singers, again in reality only 4. The Billie Jean sequence with the suitcase was a direct lift from the History Tour. Also that many of the songs he “rehearsed” for the show were never on the set list or at times not written at the time in question. But that would have made a very dull show indeed so once I got past that I started to enjoy myself. Setting the show in 1992 conveniently allows the writers to avoid dealing with any of the major controversies; setting the show around the development of This Is It might have made for a more interesting book but less of a Jacko Love-In. 

So taken less as a narrative and more of a Jackson tribute show I thought this was terrific. The cast were on great form and in the song and dance routines it felt like you were watching the real thing. It almost made me grateful that the This Is It shows didn’t happen. (Obviously not for the reasons why). Jacko in 2010 couldn’t have done all the moves we saw in this show - the 1992 version could. So whilst it would have no doubt been spectacular, sometimes it’s best to remember legends as they were in their prime.

A couple of missed tricks: although we got a snippet of the original thriller choreography in act 1, the lavish staging of the song in act 2 cried out for this. Also one of the wow moments in the tour was recreating the 45 degree lean in smooth criminal. I was expecting this to happen but the music conveniently side stepped this moment. But taken as a nostalgia trip for Michael Jackson fans, this was top notch. I didn’t learn anything new about the man, but it served as a terrific tribute to his life and music.   Highly recommended if you are a Michael Jackson fan. 

We sat in Loge 3. A great view and safely away from any bad behaviour and singalongs! Ideal for this show. On booking it came at a non premium price unlike the two loges behind.

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Dress Circle, G6, 7 and 8, in November 2025.

Never been to the Prince Edward before so didn't have a clue whether the bargain seats we picked-up on a promotion (£24 each!!!) were going to be that good or not, but we were very pleasantly surprised all round.

Leg-room was better than many places, with a very clear view of every inch of the stage; the rake was more than sufficient so the heads in front obscured nothing and we could not have been happier (even choosing to stay put when we spotted 4 empty seats a few rows in front).

At this price, it was an absolute bargain and we loved the show too!

The monkey advises checking performance times on your tickets and that performances are happening as scheduled, before travelling.

Run Time:	2 hours 30 minutes, including one interval
Monday:	7.30pm
Tuesday:	7.30pm
Wednesday:	7.30pm
Thursday:	2.30pm, 7.30pm
Friday:	7.30pm
Saturday:	2.30pm, 7.30pm
Sunday:	X

Venue Box Office & Current Prices

0344 482 5151
Venue box office details and show price charts are available on the Prince Edward Theatre page.

Ticketpipe

Ticketpipe has 4 deals available:

• MJ the Musical - Experience MJ - the electrifying, Tony Award-winning musical that's thrilled the critics and has audiences on their feet every single night at London's Prince Edward Theatre.
• MJ the Musical & Browns Covent Garden – only £85.00 per person! - Tickets to MJ the Musical located in the Stalls or Dress Circle (normally £87.50 face value + booking fee) & a 2-course meal at Browns Covent Garden, just a few minutes’ walk away from the Prince Edward Theatre
• MJ the Musical & Whitcombs – only £87.50 per person! - Tickets to MJ the Musical located in the Stalls or Dress Circle (normally £87.50 face value + booking fee) & a 2-course meal at Whitcombs in the Londoner Hotel, just a few minutes’ walk away from the Prince Edward Theatre
• MJ the Musical & return rail ticket – only £79.50 per person! - Enjoy MJ the Musical with a Stalls or Dress Circle seat (worth up to £87.50), plus a cheap day return National Rail ticket from selected stations into London – all in one great-value package! Please note: Theatre + Rail packages can be booked up to 3 calendar months from the current date

TodayTix

MJ The Musical
TodayTix charge between 10% and 20% booking fee per ticket. Discounts are often available as this is a large global ticketing company with this specific aim.

Ticketmaster

MJ The Musical
Ticketmaster charge around 8% to 10% booking fee per ticket. Handling fees may also be added. This is the largest ticketing agency worldwide.

London Theatre Direct

MJ The Musical
London Theatre Direct charge between 10% and 25% booking fee per ticket. Discounts are frequently available. Part of Trafalgar Theatre Group, known for customer service and unique offers.

See Tickets

MJ The Musical
See Tickets charge around 10% booking fee per ticket, plus £2.75 per booking (not per ticket) postal charge. They are owned by ticketing group Eventim.

LoveTheatre.com

MJ The Musical
LOVEtheatre charge around 10% booking fee per ticket. They are owned by Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) and often have good deals on shows at ATG venues.

Location: Box office discretion
Availability: Box office discretion
Price: £30
Notes: App Todaytix are offering £30 “Rush tickets” for all performances. Released for the performance on that day, first-come, first-served. Download the App from Todaytix.

Venue: Prince Edward Theatre
Address: Old Compton Street, Soho, W1D 4HS
Box Office: 0344 482 5151

More details: Seats to buy or avoid at this venue plus travel information and other details can be found on the Prince Edward Theatre page