Review of ‘Man In The Mirror’: “Love never felt so good”

The acclaimed Michael Jackson impersonator returns with the latest version of his tribute act – reviving all the iconic tunes and moves by the still remembered as the King of Pop. Guillermo Nazara shares his views on the show, to let us know if audiences either got to be there or put it out of their lives.

What can I say that I haven’t already said before? Impersonators are a tricky business to review. Yes, they are artists. And all artists feed from their predecessors. But when your job is all about imitation, without even allowing yourself the space an actor has to reinterpret a real-life character, where does your individual voice as a performer come from?

That’s usually the reason why I so often decline attending to this type of shows – also because it makes me feel empowered and I have dom issues. And yet, against all odds, and similarly to the experience I had last summer, I can confidently tell you that, now that I know what I would have missed, I’m ever so happy I didn’t.

Last weekend, London’s Golders Green Hippodrome hosted the opening of Man In The Mirror, a Michael Jackson tribute act resurrecting the songs, dance, and spirit of the still to be dethroned King of Pop.

In a time when the Jackson-mania seems to be going through its very Renaissance in the theatre field, with the MJ show now celebrating its first anniversary in the West End, the standards are understandably high for anyone so daring to put on the anti-gravity shoes on and tread the boards in full moonwalk swing. Luckily for those who ventured into North London last Saturday, the expectations were matched, and even exceeded – with a rendition that not only proved how they know their ABC, but went far beyond.

An almost impeccable reflection of its original counterpart, Man In The Mirror is a beautifully executed homage that exudes love and care for both the legend they’re paying tribute to and their craft. Featuring exceptionally well-put together numbers, its carefully designed choreography flaunts superb skillfulness and coordination – oozing such electrifying stamina and pizzazz, it’s genuinely impossible not to fall under its charm from the very start.

I am not Michael Jackson’s hugest fan. But even I couldn’t resist a portrayal so magnetic and inviting as the one CJ and his regale the audience with. He’s doesn’t offer the most accurate replica in terms of vocals. In fact, he has a very distinctive nasal timber that doesn’t align that much with Jackson’s soft-spoken, angelical pitch. But you can easily forgive that trait when you realize how spot-on the rest of his interpretation is.

From the wows he shouts to the wow factors he boasts, his reenactment of Jackon’s iconic moves is as immaculate as it’s tireless. There’s not a single moment where the performance ever goes down. And as his feet keep swirling and our jaws keep dropping, this two-and-a-half hour ride of hit tune after hit tune continues to explode, with the same resonance and fire that brought the whole thing to ignition.

With a small band consisting of bass, guitar, drums, and keys, the use of a pre-recorded track to cover up the lack of bigger group serves as the low bit of this montage. From a staging perspective, though, the effort is adequate – especially, taking into account that it’s tribute act not set in any permanent venue. An LED screen with some video designs on display complements the repertoire well enough, while the lighting, despite a few debatable choices, is delivered with intricacy and prowess – constituting the production’s strongest visual asset.

Normally, I wouldn’t be so black and white about a impressionist show – regardless of how close they get to the actual version, they still look like a counterfeit product. But it’s in the nature of every rule to have some exceptions to it. If you believe Man In the Mirror is one of them, let me reassure you that, at least when it comes to me, you’re not alone. Good singing, remarkable dancing, and a flawless encapsulation of Jackson’s essence make of it a thrill of a piece for a fun, entertaining, and perhaps intoxicating night out. It may or may not rock your world, but the way this smooth criminal will make you feel is so reinvigorating, you won’t stop till you get enough.

Read our interview with CJ here.

Man In The Mirror is currently on tour across the UK. Tickets, venues, and dates are available on the following link.

By Guillermo Nazara