Review: Burlesque the Musical at Wales Millennium Centre
- 14 hours ago
- 4 min read
Sequins, seduction and powerhouse vocals, Burlesque the Musical brings the much-loved film to the stage with new twists, bigger characters and plenty of cheeky humour.
Fans of the 2010 movie will instantly recognise its heart, but this isn’t simply a scene-for-scene recreation. Ali Rose heads to New York City in pursuit of her dreams, and the mother she has never known, while the club faces a new threat from the deliciously villainous Vince.
And what an addition Vince is.
Played by Davide Fienauri, Vince is devilish, sneaky and wonderfully evil. His expanded role works brilliantly, cutting through the sweetness of Ali’s story and giving us a proper villain to root against. His songs slot naturally into the storyline, and Fienauri clearly has fun embracing every ounce of Vince’s wickedness.
At the heart of the show is Gracie O’Brien as Ali Rose, remarkably making her professional stage debut.
O’Brien has the voice and presence to command the stage, with “Something’s Got a Hold on Me”, “Tough Lover” and “Show Me How You Burlesque” among the musical highlights. Taking on songs so closely associated with Christina Aguilera is no small challenge, but O’Brien absolutely rises to it.
She’s also genuinely funny, bringing an endearing warmth to the sweet country girl trying to find her place in the big city.
For a professional debut, this is an astonishing introduction. O’Brien has the voice, humour and stage presence for an exciting career in musical theatre. She is absolutely one to watch.
Welcome to Burlesque
Then there is Faye Brookes as Tess Richarde.
From her entrance with “Welcome to Burlesque”, Brookes owns the stage. The number instantly delivers the excitement fans of the movie are waiting for, while establishing that this is very much her version of Tess.
She doesn’t try to imitate Cher and the show is better for it.
Her Tess is glamorous, dramatic, cheeky and very funny, backed by powerhouse vocals and bags of attitude. She makes the character completely her own while still delivering everything you want from the formidable woman running the club.
The relationship between Tess and Ali is warm and believable, with plenty of emotion between them. Visually, the pair could easily pass for mother and daughter, adding another layer to their scenes together.
Ryan Carter as Sean / Ms Loretta brings infectious energy as the MC, guiding us through the club with wit and plenty of personality.
One of the biggest laughs of the night, however, belongs to Tyler Davis as Jack, Ali’s love interest. A brilliantly staged naked scene sees him grabbing strategically placed objects to preserve his modesty. The audience was howling, cheering and whooping, exactly the kind of moment that makes live theatre so much fun.
Sequins, feathers and spectacle
Visually, Burlesque delivers.
The impressive set constantly transforms, with projections cleverly bridging scene changes and transporting us around New York. Dramatic lighting creates the feeling of an intimate, exclusive underground club rather than a cavernous theatre stage.
And naturally, there are costumes. Lots of them.
Lace, feathers, sequins and wigs fill the stage, with a pastel-wig sequence particularly catching the eye. Tess’s wardrobe is another highlight – glamorous, sexy and commanding, perfectly matching her larger-than-life personality.
Musically, the production knows what fans have come to hear. “Welcome to Burlesque”, “Something’s Got a Hold on Me”, “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me”, “Tough Lover”, “Show Me How You Burlesque”, “But I Am a Good Girl” and “Wagon Wheel Watusi” sit alongside new stage numbers by Todrick Hall and Jess Folley.
The familiar songs understandably earn some of the biggest reactions, while the new material helps the musical find an identity of its own.
The new storyline does the same. Ali’s search for her mother adds an emotional thread, while Vince’s scheming raises the stakes for the club. Both changes give the stage production something fresh without losing what audiences loved about Burlesque in the first place.
A finale worth waiting for
The finale is emotional, extravagant and completely infectious. The cast pull the audience into the celebration, with people clapping and singing along as the energy in the room goes through the roof.
It’s big, bold and unapologetically Burlesque. This musical knows exactly what its audience wants: incredible voices, outrageous costumes, sexy choreography, familiar songs, adult humour and enough feathers and sequins to cover Cardiff Bay.
But underneath the spectacle, there’s heart. Faye Brookes gives Tess strength, humour and attitude; Davide Fienauri is deliciously devilish as Vince; Ryan Carter brings endless energy; and Tyler Davis delivers one of the funniest moments of the night.
But Gracie O’Brien is the revelation.
Making your professional stage debut as Ali Rose, a role associated with one of pop’s biggest voices, is no small challenge. O’Brien doesn’t just rise to it. She shines.
By the final bow, Burlesque has done exactly what it came to do – dazzled, entertained and left the audience wanting more.
★★★★
