Should Moulin Rouge! be a jukebox musical?

Moulin Rouge! The Musical was as glamorous as the sparkling diamond they sing about. My feelings about this musical are mixed, though. While I believe the production’s design elements were visually stunning and I was impressed by the performances, the content of the musical left much to be desired.

I appreciated the pre show in Moulin Rouge!, while I don’t think it was necessary and supplemental as Cabaret’s. However, I was dazzled by the crimson scene set before me as I took my seat high up on the balcony. The classic Moulin Rouge windmill and the sizable, bedazzled elephant were stunning additions to the set despite not serving an interactive purpose with the actors. Additionally, the cut-out storybook feel, often displaying the Eiffel Tower standing gracefully in the distance, added a whimsical, romantic feeling to the production.

While I greatly appreciated the visual appeal that Moulin Rouge! provided, I was less impressed by the storyline and music choice. The romance between Christian and Satine was compelling, though I found myself frustrated with Christian for failing to see Satine’s predicament. However, I was distracted by the music choice. I wasn’t aware that Moulin Rouge! is a jukebox musical. This is not the issue, though. Despite the recent popular distaste towards jukebox musicals, I tend to enjoy them depending on the content of the musical. I think, though, that there should be new music to go alongside the musical because the creators are presenting a new story. I’ve done some research, and read that it’s based on real people who interacted with the Moulin Rouge. However, I believe that the disorganized use of chart-topping hits distracted from the essence of the storyline presented. Additionally, the original song is misplaced, given the common theme of using previously written ones. I believe that some of the songs date the musical as well. The one I’m thinking of in particular is Katy Perry’s “Firework.” While it may have (barely) worked for my fourth grade talent show and as an anthem for overcoming emotional hardship, I don’t think this song has a place in Moulin Rouge!. It immediately distracted me from the essence of what Satine was trying to prove, and I was lost as to what was going on.

To conclude, I do not regret attending Moulin Rouge! and I understand why so many people love it. The mood was exciting, and I loved how they mimicked the real Moulin Rouge in many elements both on stage and in the audience. However, it was not my favorite. I believe that the outstanding visual elements were unable to mask what, in my opinion, is the mediocre bones of the musical. These bones are mostly in reference to the music choice, and I believe that if the musical was fully outfitted with original songs it would be phenomenal.