If Michael Jackson were still alive and performing today, the spectacle of Cirque du Soleil’s interpretation of his works would have been the perfect accompaniment.
Extravagant, loud, over-the-top and at times surreal, Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour, is a two-hour ode to the pop icon that is less a circus show and more a richly choreographed concert. Only here, the actual singer is conspicuously absent.
Conceptualised by Emmy Award-winning choreographer Jamie King, the show features a live band, including singers from Jackson’s Bad tour and a whole lot of dramatics via Cirque du Soleil’s artist. Starting with the 1995 hit Childhood as the gates of Neverland open, audiences are taken into a fantastical world Jackson himself could have dreamed up.
Using multiple screens, amazing visual effects, pyrotechnics and a generous dose of LED lights, the first act of the show dived straight into the late singer’s earlier repertoire: Wanna be Startin’ Something featured acrobats, Dangerous had a pole dancer and, the highlight of Act 1, four aerial hoop performers dressed in flickering LED suits perform against a backdrop of constellations to the song Human Nature. In between, there’s a whole lot of medleys featuring mostly choreographed moves to songs such as Thriller, Is it Scary, Smooth Criminal, Rock With You and The Jacksons’ This Place Hotel.
Act 2, following a 20-minute break, kicked off with one of the highlights of the entire show: Two gymnasts perform on straps as they hang, twist and balance precariously to the song I just Can’t Stop Loving You. Then, besides the rhythmic gymnasts and aerial stunts for the song Scream, there wasn’t much of Cirque du Soleil in the rest of the show.
Director King seems to be playing on his strengths as a choreographer, as many of the other tracks — all featuring Jackson’s voice but with the music and backing vocals performed live — were more dance performances rather than circus acts. The choreography is breath-taking, yes, and the dancers faultless, but their energy did not often percolate through to the arena audience. And when the backing vocalists took to the centre of the stage, it often felt slightly incomplete with the man himself missing, only appearing briefly on the screens.
The loudest cheers of the show therefore, were reserved for the ones doing the circus acts. It’s supposed to be a Cirque du Soleil production after all.
Michael Jackson The Immortal runs until January 14 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Tickets are priced between Dh295 and Dh2,295. Go to ticketmaster.ae.
