A packed audience for the opening night of The Bodyguard at The Regent Theatre was buzzing with excitement as it awaited the start of the performance. By the end of the show, they were purring with the pleasure of the production like a cat whose belly has been tickled by some terrific musical theatre.
Few of those attending would have been unaware of the plotline which largely follows that of the 1992 film of the same name but this was a slicker and tighter production of the screenplay.
Rachel Marron (Samantha Mbolekwa) is a talented singer-songwriter with an eye on winning an Oscar and all seems well with her life as she lives in a mansion with her 10-year old son Fletcher (Kaylenn Aires Fonseca who is cuter and more talented than many a child actor). Unfortunately, her Manager Bill (John Macaulay) discovers that there is a stalker (Marios Nicolaides) who has evil intentions towards Rachel. Bill decides to hire Frank Farmer (Ayden Callaghan) as a bodyguard – much to the displeasure of former security chief Tony (Gary Elwell) and her record producer Sy Spector (James Groom).
Rachel initially resents her loss of freedom as Frank protects her but, as more menacing information on the stalker is provided by Secret Service Agent Ray Court (Fergal Coghlan), she becomes closer to her protector and a night in a karaoke bar forces her to show her hand as a potential lover.
The other fly in the ointment for Rachel is sister Nicki (Emily-Mae) who, as a frustrated performer herself, is resentful of her sister’s success and when she too develops an affection for Frank matters do not bode well. Will Rachel win her Oscar? Will the stalker strike? And will Frank be too distracted to place his life on the line to protect his ward?
For the production to hit the heights expected there are two real requirements of the cast. Firstly, they have to master the musical magic of Whitney Houston. This box was definitely ticked by principal vocalists Samantha and Emily-Mae who were simply magnificent.
Secondly, there has to be good interaction between the cast and once again this was a success. Mbolekwa effectively showed all of the qualities required of her role with aplomb. She was able to play the diva, the ice queen, the worried parent and her affection while also having the steel to see her project through.
Callaghan – of Emmerdale and Hollyoaks fame- carries his somewhat aloof character with a charisma that had the female members of the audience swooning and Emily-Mae showed her vulnerable quality as well as her jealousies to perfection. With excellent support from other cast members – including a menacing performance from Nicolaides – and energy from the ensemble this was a perfect package.
The show is built around the back catalogue of superstar Houston and many of her greatest hits are shoehorned into the action. However, the songs are not played just for effect and are cleverly used to enhance the plot. Run to You becomes a beautiful duet as Rachel and Nicki express their growing feelings towards Frank; I Have Nothing is a heart-stopping end to Act 1 as Rachel gives the come hither to her intended beau: and I Will Always Love You – a karaoke parody in the opening Act – provides an emotional showstopper. The only downside is that dramatic intervention means that the audience is unable to give the deserved applause for the superb rendition of One Moment in Time.
With the ingenious use of big-screen backdrops, clever use of the stage and a superb orchestra under the direction of Sam Hall, Director Thea Sharrock has produced a show that had the audience skipping into the night air. Like a master baker, she has mixed the ingredients of a classic romantic story and a cast at the top of their game, leavened it with a healthy portion of stage effects and topped it off with a memorable score to create a cake that celebrates all that is magical about musical theatre. Certainly, a production for second helpings and worth Michelin stars!!
The production has a running time of 2 hours 25 minutes and continues until March 4th. For ticket information contact atgtickets.com/stoke
