Review Roundup: Hugh Jackman Returns to the Stage in BROADWAY TO OZ Tour - UPDATED!

Hugh Jackman is currently polishing his dancing shoes for an all-new stage show BROADWAY TO OZ, touring throughout his native Australia. The show kicked off in Melbourne earlier this week. Click here to watch a clip from the Tony Award-winner's concert featuring the song, "This is Me," from his upcoming movie musical THE GREATEST SHOWMAN ON EARTH.

BROADWAY TO OZ is scheduled to hit five major Australian cities and is described as "a personal journey through Jackman's life, from early days in Outback Australia through successes in musical theater and Hollywood stardom." Included in the song list will be tunes that Jackman has performed throughout his career, as well as musical tributes to the classics. The Tony winner will be accompanied by 150 musicians and dancers.

Produced by Dainty Group and Robert Fox, the show launched in Melbourne on November 24th before visiting arenas in Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide. The tour will wrap up on December 15th in Perth.

Let's see what the critics have to say!

Van Badham, The Guardian: It's not appropriate to review the show as concert, cabaret or musical theatre, for it's not a show about music as much as it is about Jackman himself - more of a live-action slide night with orchestra. And Jackman plays Jackman with gusto, reviewing his career to date with the enthusiasm of a man successful enough for others to be entertained by the exhibition of his own taste.

Cameron Woodhead, The Sydney Morning Herald: Jackman's voice has fair range; he can belt out and sustain big notes and acts well through song. There's the occasional rough edge or missed cue, but no one cares about them - not when it's one of Australia's most charismatic sons, and certainly not when he's backed by a large orchestra and a talented cast of back-up vocalists and dancers in glitzy costume.

Ritwik Roy, International Business Times: His electrical performance yesterday mesmerised the audience who marvelled at his versatility and charm. Finally, Australian audiences have understood how this handsome, booty-shaking performer was able to gracefully charm America and become one of Hollywood's most banked upon actors.

Sally Bennett, Herald Sun: This is what it promised to be - a very personal, high-octane show with the real Hugh Jackman telling us about the triumphant stage and screen career of superstar Hugh Jackman, but without a hint of ego. And it's a showstopper. Jackman is in fine voice and fighting fit as he cranks out a procession of show tunes, ably supported by an ensemble of singers, dancers, an orchestra and choir.

Anthony de Ceglie, PerthNow: The show is a non-stop tour de force by the Australian actor whose versatility means he is as famous for playing Wolverine in the X-Men franchise as he is for playing Jean Valjean in LES MISERABLES. The show is also a little odd. It's as if Jackman has fulfilled the fantasy of not only being the subject of a This Is Your Life special, but also playing the host and even the special guests...Yet, despite all this, the show is a resounding success that never crosses the line into vanity project...Jackman moves seamlessly between a host of songs from famous musicals...A medley from Les Miserable to close the first act was hair-raising stuff...And the truth is the anecdotes about his life in between the dancing and high notes are genuinely stirring.

Photo credit: James Morgan

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