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It starts and ends with a bang and what fills up the middle of The Bodyguard, which is currently starring 2008s X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke at The Liverpool Empire, is pretty satisfying stuff too.
Yes there is everything that Whitney Houston fans would want: bright lights, lots of romance and – obviously – some great songs, all of which will put audiences back in particular moments of their own lives with the fondest of memories intact.
The set – a collection of sliding panels, smoke and mirrors that either quickly or slowly reveal places hitherto unseen, adds nicely to the shows vibrancy and pathos, whereas the costumes are quite simply stunning.
The acting is also top notch – particularly that of LIPA graduand Stuart Reid as Frank “The Bodyguard” Farmer – and young Max Fincham played Rachel Marron’s son Fletcher fizzed with fantastic energy, vim vigour and not a few fabulous dance moves of his own.
Fine performances also come from both Dominic Taylor as the hyper nervous, uber-controlling manager, Sy Spector, and Matthew Stathers as the indescribably sinister Stalker. Now here’s a guy who could make a living in something like The Fall.
Yet it is a scene in a backstreet karaoke bar that will live longest in the memory, for all its campishness, simply because it is just so accurate and so what everybody wants to happen at Little Coopers one night.
Rachel John in the role of disappointed in love / life Nicki Marron, Rachel’s sister is exceptional though and hers is a voice to savour, with Saving All My Love For You rarely having been sung so passionately.
Ultimately, however, this is Alexandra Burke’s show and not only can she belt out a fine tune – her I Will Always Love You here is more than impressive – her acting is nearly of the same calibre as her vocals.
Yes, there is enough cheese at times to make you want to look for The Jacobs Crackers, but there is also all the Hollywood glitz and glam that any star struck fan could wish for and, ultimately, this is another Juke Box Musical that somewhat surprisingly hits the mark quite nicely.
The Bodyguard
The Liverpool Empire Theatre
April 26 – April 30
Cast Includes: Alexandra Burke, Stuart Reid, Rachel John, Dominic Taylor, Max Fincham
Running Time: 2 hrs 30 mins
PR Rating: ****A Moment In Time