Legitimate Theater Bonus: #13. Moulin Rouge! (2019)

Welcome to Legitimate Theater: a column dedicated to movie-based stage musicals. The goal of this series is to explore those stories that originated in films and eventually worked their way onto Broadway and beyond. By the end of each entry, there will hopefully be a better understanding of this odd but rampant trend in modern entertainment. Are these stories really worth telling through song and dance? How can it even compare to the technical prowess of a camera and seamless editing? Join me on this quest as I explore the highs and lows of this trend on the third Wednesday of every month and hopefully answer what makes this Legitimate Theater.

Opening

Around the turn of the century, there was one musical that sought out to bring the fun back to movies. Baz Luhrmann's ode to French cabaret Moulin Rouge! would go on to be a Best Picture nominee and kick off a string of imitators and launch the jukebox musical phenomenon. There's a lot of cultural cache that the film holds even almost two decades later. It may, in fact, be why there is now a Broadway show version that was recently released, presenting the story in shameless detail with hundreds of new covers and mash-ups to enhance the story and make a new generation appreciate the magic of this crazy world. The only question really is was it worth it? Read on to find out.

A Quick Background

Tony Wins: N/A

Based on: Moulin Rouge! (2001)

Music: Various

Lyrics: Various

Book: John Logan

Prominent Actors: Karen Olivo, Aaron Tveit, Danny Burstein 

Soundtrack

1. "Welcome to Moulin Rouge!"
2. "Truth Beauty Freedom Love"
3. "The Sparkling Diamond"
4. "Shut Up and Raise Your Glass"
5. "Firework"
6. "Your Song"
7. "So Exciting!"
8. "Sympathy for the Duke"
9. "Nature Boy"
10. "Elephant Love Medley"
11. "Backstage Romance"
12. "Come What May"
13. "Only Girl in a Material World"
14. "Chandelier"
15. "El Tango de Roxanne"
16. "Crazy Rolling"
17. "Your Song Reprise"
18. "Finale (Come What May)"
19. "More More More"

Note: Listen to the music here

Song Exploration

Opening Song:
"Welcome to Moulin Rouge!"

As in keeping with the film, it only makes sense for the show to open with a medley of pop songs. A lot of the tracks have a certain familiarity, notably the use of the "Lady Marmalade" cover. It has all of the energy you've come to expect from a jukebox musical that moves at breakneck speed through a catalog to establish its entire plot through other peoples' music. It's fun, energetic, and kicks things off on the note that best defines the rest of the work.

Carryovers
"Come What May,", "El Tango de Roxane," 
"Your Song," "So Exciting!"

It's safe to say that there's a few more carryovers on this album, but only in small pieces. The soundtrack uses a lot more contemporary music to fill out the story and effectively uses lyrics and melodies to enhance what was already 15 years old. In these very few exceptions, they are practically the same song to the extent that you understand what the appeal of this mash-up format was. They present a story through a somewhat organized structure, bringing with it an earnestness that the newer covers just don't have. It's fun and reflects the core of the story in interesting ways, notably the "So Exciting!" song detailing a future production with original lyrics but familiar and older melodies that exist outside of pop music.

High Point:

"Come What May"

In some ways, the only fully original song deserves credit here because it shows the missed potential of not trying to work a little bit hard to make music that popped on its own. By giving a wholly original number room to breathe and exist as a romantic motif, it gives the show a depth that exists outside of artifice. It comes back even more powerfully by the end, and it's all the better for it. The song as a whole is a strong standout on the soundtrack in large part because of how much room the actors have to breathe and make the song their own. You believe their passion in every note, if just because there's not a chance for things to transition into someone else's song.

Low Point:

"Elephant Love Medley"

Okay, it would be easy to say that this embodies Moulin Rouge! at its best, but that's to suggest that doing this kind of jukebox musical was a good idea in the first place. Instead, it's an indictment of why this was a bad idea. The song is essentially a collection of dozens of songs that mention the word "love" as actors sing it at each other. There's no room for personality to build nor is there a chance to resonate in tone because a lot of the songs feel more like they exist to challenge an audience into a game of Name That Tune. It's not great by any stretch, even if it progresses the story by excessive use of the l word. 

What Does It Bring to the Story?

The easy answer is that it brings a whole lot of newer songs. While some of the mash-ups are clever than others, they seem to exist alongside each other like they do on iTunes. You get a 30 second sample that plays just so you have enough to admire, then it switches to the next song to keep you interested. As a whole, it probably adds depth to the spectacle on stage, but as an album it's a bit tedious and obnoxious, serving more as a halfbaked compilation of songs done by karaoke enthusiasts than anything special. It's fun, but only in small doses. 

Was This Necessary?

No

While there's a good chance that those who love the Baz Luhrmann movie will find a lot to appreciate about it, this incorporates a lot of what makes the film a tad obnoxious to me. The jukebox musical by itself isn't a terrible idea. However, there's not enough of a focus here to make anything standout besides what was already in the show going in. While it's fun to hear Lorde and Sia get a Broadway adaptation, what good is it if they're reduced to seconds of a song instead of the triumphant center? Again, there's a good chance the show can solve all of its problems, but as "Come What May" ceaselessly proves, it's better to just do one song at a time. It helps make things clearer and easier to follow, let alone enjoy.