BurlYESque: the sexy new theatre show

The theatre adaptation of the 2010 Burlesque film starring Christina Aguilera arrived in Manchester’s Opera House on 13 June for its debut show. Here’s what I have to say about it…yes yes YES. Welcome to Burlesque. You won’t want to leave.

If you’re not a singer or dancer like me, I guarantee you’ll want to be one by the time the show ends. Heck, you might even exit the theatre doors visualising yourself in a corset with a feather headdress in your hair. If not, then clearly my imagination got the better of me and I forgot I wasn’t the main character, Ali, for a minute…or more.

Jess Folley plays Ali, a beautiful blonde who travels to New York to discover more about her birth mother, only to find herself in a Burlesque club. Drawn to its magnetic energy, just as I was drawn to the edge of my seat, we see Ali transform from an outsider to the main character. She embodies the meaning of Burlesque: skilled, sexy, and sensational. She really comes into her own and finds her place in the world, something a lot of us can relate to. If that isn’t enough to bring a tear to your eye like it did to me, then you have a heart of stone. Or, I need to control my emotions.

When I walked into the theatre, I was convinced that no one could match the voice of Christina Aguilera. I saw her live in concert in Manchester when I was a teenager after singing along to her songs in my bedroom with a hairbrush (as you do) and I can without a doubt say she has one of the best voices I have ever heard. So, it’s safe to say that Jess Folley took me aback when her voice raised the hairs on my arms. If I would have closed my eyes, which I couldn’t have possibly done as I didn’t dare miss a second, I would have thought I was in the same room as Christina Aguilera herself. 

It’s not just the music and the dancing that hit the nail on the head. Star of the West End, singer, choreographer, and all-around icon, Todrick Hall, brings glamour and humour to the show. Playing the character of Sean, the manager of the Burlesque club and best friend to the club's owner, Tess, he dazzled the audience the whole way through. He received a round of applause that kept on giving. So much so, I thought they were going to have to pause the show. 

Folly and Hall are joined on stage by an abundance of talent. From Broadway's Jackie Burns to It’s a Sin star Michael Mather, the cast transported the audience into a burlesque club and filled the room with sensation—it’s no wonder they got a standing ovation. There’s so much praise to give to everyone involved in the show—unfortunately I’d go over my word count if I sat and named them all. But, I can’t possibly write this without mentioning the producer of the show and writer and director of the 2010 film, Steven Antin. He really brought Burlesque to life in a story that captivates and entertains. Without him, it’s a story we wouldn’t be blessed to enjoy.

It is hands down the best show I have ever seen. It was spectacular from start to finish—it was funny, sexy, and inspiring. 

Here’s why you should believe me. I’m a tall gal so when it comes to being squashed in theatre seats (you fellow sky-scrapers know what I mean), I notice my legs going numb before the pins and needles coarse through my body. But this was not the case when I watched Monday’s performance of Burlesque. While my legs were practically wrapped around the neck of the poor girl sitting in front of me, I was so engrossed in the show that I don’t think I would have noticed if my right leg fell off. 

I attended the fourth show of the tour on Monday 16 June and I’m already looking at booking tickets for when the show returns to Manchester in Autumn. So, if you haven’t already got your tickets, I’d advise you to get them—you’ve got me to compete against. If you do miss out, fear not, it will be making its way to the West End with dates yet to be announced.

Now, I’m off to go and find a Burlesque club to join. Until next time, my remote readers.