[yasr_overall_rating]
Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge; what they don’t expect is to fall in love.
From the very moment the lights go down, this electrifying, special-effects musical offers a well-choreographed and fast-moving presentation that highlights the best and worst of show business. “The Bodyguard: The Musical,” which had its world premiere in 2012 in London, is based on Lawrence Kasdan’s Oscar-nominated film which famously starred Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner in 1992. On the heels of its first U.S. national tour, this production casts multi-platinum recording artist Deborah Cox as Rachel Marron and television star Judson Mills as Frank Farmer. The two, along with an entire stage full of extremely diverse and multi-talented supporting actors and actresses, makes this production everything you ever wanted in a musical and more.
The story revolves around former Secret Service Agent Frank Farmer who is hired to protect superstar Rachel Morron from a stalker. The problem is that Rachel doesn’t think it is necessary and Frank isn’t accustomed to dealing with uncooperative people. As Rachel becomes more agitated with the unwelcomed changes that restrict her freedom, the stalker (Jorge Paniagua) becomes more aggressive by invading her private space with creepy letters and phantom visits. When the stalking becomes too serious to ignore, Frank is forced to have a tighter rein, and Rachel is forced to quickly adapt to Frank’s uninterrupted presence in her life. Complicating matters, even more, is Rachel’s sister and Personal Assistant Nicki (Jasmin Richardson) who has always stayed in her sister’s shadow, and Rachel’s young and highly impressionable son Fletcher (Kevelin B. Jones, III) who just wants to be a normal kid but can’t due to his mother’s popularity. When Rachel and Frank finally get on the same page, a romantic relationship develops between them and Frank begins to unravel as his feelings for Rachel and Fletcher get in the way of his ability to do his job. When Nikki, who didn’t need another reason to despise her sister for having the best of everything becomes vindictive and eventually loses her life as the ultimate sacrifice, Frank shuts everything down, including his feelings, to focus on finding the killer and giving Rachel her normal, “Superstar” life back.
Director Thea Sharrock has done an outstanding job of orchestrating this extremely talented ensemble into an over-the-top production that leaves the audience begging for more of everything. It would be remiss though to underestimate the value of the highly-skilled production team of lighting, sound, choreography, music, set design, and special effects that brought the house down! The raw talent and professionalism of every single person contributed to the overall success of this soul-stirring masterpiece that I could sit through over and over again. However, the vocals deserve a rousing, standing-room–only ovation that unequivocally warms the heart and chills the spine all at once!
Dallas Summer Musicals, you did well! DFW, don’t sleep on it!
Performing at the Music Hall at Fair Park July 18 – 30
