It’s not usually better to sit at the back of a venue or on the balcony, but for the Tony Award-winning MJ The Musical, currently running at Toronto’s CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre until Nov. 2, the distance from the stage adds to the illusion of Michael Jackson onstage, played, danced and sang exceptionally by Louisiana native Jordan Markus.
The costumes — including those white socks and black loafers and various iconic jackets — add to the make believe.
It’s hard to have someone step into the role of such a legendary persona without it looking like a Halloween costume or impersonator, but from the balcony Markus’ physique, mannerisms and dance moves are uncanny. Even his speaking voice — while he can’t possibly replicate the talent of MJ — is fairly close to what we all know as his whispery high-pitched signature. Of course, the costumes, designed by Paul Tazewell, help.
The jukebox musical — created with the blessing from the King of Pop’s estate; he died in 2009 at age 50 — was written by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage and directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, and focuses on the rehearsal and mounting of Jackson’s 1992 Dangerous World Tour and an MTV reporter (Kristen Stokes) hoping to interview him.
Using the upcoming tour as the central plot, Nottage interweaves biographical elements, in flashbacks.
The show features three Michaels: the child star of the Jackson 5 (Bryce A. Holmes), the middle Michael (Brandon Lee Harris), and the superstar (Markus). Nottage’s script just touches on points in his life, whether it’s growing up with an abusive authoritarian father, his growing dependence on pills and his immense donations to charity. Motown’s Berry Gordy and producer Quincy Jones also make appearances in the story.
The musical, which runs about two-and-a-half hours with intermission, features more than two dozen songs, among them the hits you are hoping it includes: “Billie Jean,” “Thriller” “Wanna Be Startin’ Something,” “Smooth Criminal,” “They Don’t Care About Us,” “Bad,” and “Man in the Mirror.” That’s really what it’s about.
Many people would just be happy to see Markus up there alone, without a flimsy plot, just singing the songs, doing his best to replicate MJ’s dance moves, wearing album-era music video and stagewear.
Let’s face it, no matter his personal legacy — from keeper of llamas and a pet chimp, Bubbles, to the charges of child molestation for which he was acquitted — MJ was a masterful, meticulous artist, viewed by many as the world’s greatest entertainer, at least in pop music, evidenced by reportedly global sales of more than 300 million albums.
The cast is a touring Broadway production. The show premiered in New York in December, 2021, and has reportedly grossed $280 million USD, selling more than five million tickets worldwide.
