There are some musicals that can’t fail to make an impact and The Bodyguard is most definitely one of those.
And I am very much testament to its appeal as, on Monday night, I took my seats to see it for an EIGHTH time. While many theatre lovers are die hard fans of Wicked and flock to see Elphaba and Glinda whenever and wherever they can, I guess I’m just a sucker for the a Whitney Houston anthem and intense love story!
And arriving at Sunderland Empire almost 11 years since the world lost one of the greatest singing talents of all time, The Bodyguard honours Whitney in sublime style.
As the late and great music legend’s famous big screen alias, under threat global icon and Oscar nominee Rachel Marron, Melody Thornton is a diminutive diva. While she may be rather small in stature, the Pussycat Doll star has a presence and a voice that fills the stage and demands attention with every line of dialogue and every note of a song.
When it comes to Whitney classics, there are certainly a few tricky ones of those to master, but Melody rises to the challenge with great aplomb. She is phenomenally fierce in fiery and flame clad opening number Queen of the Night; a dancefloor delight in I’m Every Woman and three belle of the ballad in the soaring I Have Nothing.
The latter is famed for its final key change as it builds to a mighty crescendo but, even it pales in comparison to I Will Always Love You and THAT note in its final chorus. As she was raised on a platform above the stage, Melody’s vocals threatened to lift the roof of the Empire and, thankfully most of the audience had the respect to give it the pin drop silence it deserved rather than try to belt out their own versions!
Melody is a class act and so to is ex Emmerdale and Hollyoaks star Ayden Callaghan as Rachel’s reluctant protector Frank Farmer. Soap actors are often looked down on when it comes to their profession, despite the fact that, with their packed schedules of learning lines and filming, they are among the hardest working people in the industry and Ayden’s talents should be dismissed at your peril as he is both strong and self assured, while also brilliant at showing a softer side when required for Frank’s not too frequent lighter moments, including a unique shall we say, rendition of I Will Always Love You in a karaoke bar.
While of course the fraught working relationship turned rocky romance between Rachel and Frank is front and centre, The Bodyguard isn’t just some throw away love story of a production; away from the warm fuzzy feelings and Whitney tracks, it is very much a thriller and the man responsible for ensuring that a shiver is sent down the spine with every appearance he makes on stage is Marios Nicolaides as The Stalker.
Unnerving would be an understatement for his eerily excellent portrayal of a man obsessed with a star who he believes is well within his grasp and is intent on getting to her, taking out anyone who gets in his way. As we learn more about his character’s past late on in the second act, Marios is responsible for one of the show’s most dramatic moments. And if there’s one thing I’ve learnt from being a Happy Valley fan it’s not to give any spoilers away, so I’ll leave that one at that!
As often overlooked and under appreciated sibling, Nicky Marron, Emily-Mae is as fine an actress and she is singer and her contained and controlled delivery of Saving All My Love For You is the perfect precursor for her epic duet with Melody on Run to You.
While The Bodyguard has its main protagonists it is very much an ensemble piece and it’s wow factor wouldn't fire on all cylinders if it was for the likes of James Groom as demanding publicist Sy Spector, John Macaulay as Bill Devaney and Graham Elwell as Tony Scibelli and all the young actors who are playing Fletcher on the musical’s UK tour.
All of them get the chance to shine in the high octane I Wanna Dance With Somebody finale, which if bottled would be a dose of serotonin to lighten any mood and brighten even the darkest of nights.
The Bodyguard isn’t just ‘another jukebox musical’ - it has passion, it has power and it has pizazz.
It has the stuff that you want and if you’re having a bit of an off week, it is most definitely the thing that you need!
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