Review Roundup: THE BODYGUARD Musical Opens in London

Heather Headley and Lloyd Owen lead the cast in new musical The Bodyguard, directed by Thea Sharrock. Other cast members include Debbie Kurup, Mark Letheren, Ray Shell, Nicolas Colicos, Mark McKerracher, Sean Chapman, David Page and Oliver Le Sueur. They are joined by Luis Buddy, Caius Duncombe, Jayden Fowora Knight, Kwame Kandekore, Taylor Lockhart and Malakai Paul who will share the role of Fletcher, Rachel Marron's young son. Ensemble members are Nigel Barber, Jordan Darrell, Yasmin Harrison, Shanay Holmes, Holly James, Robert Jezek, Melissa Keyes, Gil Kolirin, Janet Kumah, Nick Maude, Richard Murphy, Gloria Onitiri, Ashley J Packer, Dharmesh Patel, Lucinda Shaw, Paul Smethurst, Charlotte Watts and James Wooldridge.

Based on Lawrence Kasdan's 1992 Warner Bros. film, this brand new musical of The Bodyguard, with book by Alex Dinelaris, opens at the Adelphi Theatre on December 5 2012.

Check out what the critics had to say: 

Libby Purves of The Times states: Twenty years ago I dozed off, despite the racket, in the Whitney Houston movie about a pop diva falling for her bodyguard, Kevin Costner. Its only residue was the tendency, shared by many, to croon "Ayeeeeee will always love youuuuu" in the bath; that song was never off the radio. But behold! A new musical gives throbbing new life to that thin story, half gig, half thriller.

Michael Coveney of whatsonstage writes: Film fans will love the plethora of numbers, Arthur Pita's electric musical staging and hyperbolic show-time routines, Debbie Kurup's fine performance as Rachel's jealous sister, and will be relieved that Sean Chapman, not Gary Kemp, is playing the PR man.

Charles Spencer of the Telegraph says: In fact, director Thea Sharrock has done a remarkable job. Her production, spectacularly and ingeniously designed by Tim Hatley, is far more enjoyable than the movie. And there is a thrilling star performance from the Trinidad-born, American-based singer and actress Heather Headley, who, when it comes to selling a song, hitting the high notes and ornamenting a number with vocal swoops and trills, struck me as being at least as fine a singer as Houston in her heyday, if not even better.

Peter Brown of London Theatre Guide writes: In Lloyd Owen's excellent Frank Farmer, we find a rather solitary man, who appears to have a past which he would rather forget. Formerly a Secret Service agent he is dependable, cautious and quietly confident. Lloyd Owen sensibly handles the American accent by keeping it light, so it never irritates or fades. Heather Headley has a wonderful singing voice, but she is also a very capable actress and I never found her lacking in authenticity or believability.

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