A SHOW OF ICONIC MOVES AND MIXED EMOTIONS

By Tanya Howard | Founder, The Live Review London · @glamglitzlondon ⭐⭐⭐ | Press Invite

Going into MJ The Musical, I had high hopes. With a soundtrack packed full of Michael Jackson’s biggest hits and choreography worthy of an Olivier Award, I expected a show that would leave me buzzing. And in some moments, it absolutely did; the energy, the precision, and the unmistakable MJ sound are all there. But emotionally, I found myself struggling to connect.

The show jumps between Michael’s Dangerous tour prep and flashbacks to his childhood, and honestly, I wasn’t sure what the expected feeling was meant to be. The flashbacks should have hit hard, showing the cost of fame and his complicated family dynamic, but instead I felt a bit detached. Joseph Jackson (Matt Mills) is so unrelentingly cruel, and Katherine (KoKo Alexandra) so subdued, that there’s no emotional middle ground. You understand their roles in shaping him, but it was hard to feel anything other than frustration.

One of the biggest challenges for me was the double casting. Matt Mills plays both Joseph Jackson and Rob, two very different influences on Michael. In theory, it’s clever, showing contrasting sides of his life, but in practice it felt jarring. I’d just started to dislike Joseph, and then suddenly I was meant to feel warmth toward Rob, and my brain couldn’t switch fast enough. KoKo Alexandra had the same issue, doubling as Katherine and Kate. Her voice was phenomenal (seriously show-stopping) but emotionally it was tricky to keep up, flipping between admiration for Kate and frustration with Katherine.

Musically and visually, the show is impressive. The choreography is top tier, the ensemble are absolute stars, and the iconic Michael Jackson hits get you moving in your seat. “Smooth Criminal,” “Beat It,” and “Thriller” all had the audience on their feet. But speaking of Thriller… where was the red jacket?! Michael performed it in a blue shirt despite the iconic jacket making an appearance earlier on, and I can’t lie, that bugged me. As did the fact that “The Way You Make Me Feel,” my personal favourite, was only instrumental. Justice for my favourite song, please.

The show has some incredible highs, but something about it just didn’t quite land for me. It’s technically brilliant but emotionally distant. Like watching a beautifully made documentary rather than feeling pulled into a story. It left me wondering how Michael himself would have felt about this version of his life being told.

Ultimately, MJ The Musical feels like a celebration of Michael Jackson’s talent more than an intimate look at his life. There are amazing performances and heart-stopping musical numbers, but I struggled with the emotional connection to the story and the characters. It’s a show to enjoy the spectacle, the dancing, and the music, but the story itself left me wanting a bit more depth.

MJ The Musical is running at Prince Edward Theatre until Saturday 28 February, and will follow its two-year London run by embarking on a major UK Tour in 2026.

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