The Bodyguard UK Tour - Theatre Royal Plymouth - Review

Rachel Marron is a world famous popstar at the height of her fame, she's campaigning for an Oscar win, and everyone loves her. But there is someone out there lurking in the shadows who loves her too much, who is obsessed with her and when increasingly threatening letters begin to appear far too close to home, a bodyguard is brought in to protect Rachel and her young son Fletcher.

Based on the 1992 film of the same title, The Bodyguard has taken the Whitney Houston led romance drama and turned it into a full on and gritty musical comprising of several of Houston's greatest hits featuring huge concert musical moments, a love triangle, a glimpse of the organisation behind a megastar and some real threat. And it is an engaging and entertaining thriller with music guaranteed to please.

Rachel, played at this performance by Mireia Mambo, is driven, passionate and incredibly opinionated. In fact, perhaps too opinionated in the eyes of her publicist Sy Spector (Matt Millburn) and bodyguard Frank Farmer (Adam Garcia) who's guidance on safety precautions is bulldozed by Rachel's decisions on where to perform and eat. But Mambo does show a softer side to the megastar in her interactions with Fletcher, played here by young talent Mason Dyett. Her vocals impress greatly as she effortlessly takes on back to back Whitney Houston classics to the delight and cheers of the audience.

Boasting a lengthy CV of past theatre roles including Bill Calhoun in Kiss Me Kate, Fiyero in Wicked and Julian Marsh in 42nd street, theatre fans will instantly recognise Adam Garcia, here taking on the role of the brooding and mysterious bodyguard Frank Farmer. Work focused, clever and willing to risk it all for those in his protection, Garcia creates a hero in a smart suit, the object of attraction to both Rachel and her sister Nicki (Sasha Monique). Whilst strong in the role of the brave and caring gentleman, it does feel a shame that someone with such a great theatrical history only gets to sing once, and its a comedy moment of bad karaoke.

Sasha Monique's Nicki lives in her sister's shadow, portrayed as part PA, part babysitter with a love of performing in cabaret bars, all whilst wishing that the handsome part would for once choose her over Rachel. Vocally, Monique shines, particularly with her rendition of 'Saving all my Love for You', whilst also landing some wonderful comical lines such as when Sy asks 'what's got into her' about a moody Rachel only for Nicki to reply 'her bodyguard'. Mason Dyett gets some of the largest cheers of the night as Fletcher, adorable, bright eyed and vocally talented as he becomes a fan of bodyguard Farmer. I have to get props to James-Lee Harris who creates a truly terrifying stalker, with only a few lines, with an energy that oozes evil and a deep hard stare.

The ensemble perform some electric dance routines but perhaps feels a little underused with the vast majority of musical numbers performed solely by Monique and Mambo. The set is effective and moves very smoothly with many scenes performed in front of a more simple backdrop to allow for larger set changes to happen behind. But talking about the set does bring me on to a point I feel worth mentioning. I'm nitpicking here but throughout this production, I couldn't quite decide when this story was supposed to be set. For context, the film was released in 1992, with the story reflecting that time. I thought that the show would stick to that and the costuming and set especially the mansion in my opinion fit, looking like a more minimal Fresh Prince of BelAir house with draped curtains and plush pillows. But then I saw camera phones, and a heavy reference to Instagram, so I got a little confused over the time period here.

I do need to praise the lighting design, which was cleverly used to heighten the suspense with darkness and spotlights expertly used to allow the stalker to appear and disappear suddenly.

In conclusion, The Bodyguard, is a gritty and dark drama with a scattering of romance and great music. Backstories and romances could perhaps have been explored at a deeper level, but I don't think that was ever meant to be the main focus, instead the stalker story is given the spotlight. A few good jump scares will get your pulse racing and the music will get you dancing in your seat.

#gifted