Michael Jackson musical ‘inevitable’ for Australia – but do we want it?

Melbourne is high on the list of cities in talks to host a production of one of Broadway’s newest and most controversial shows: MJ the Musical, a jukebox stuffed with talent and hits, but empty of references to dead superstar Michael Jackson’s history of child sexual abuse allegations.

The musical, starring Broadway newcomer Myles Frost, officially opened at New York’s Neil Simon Theatre on February 1. It was met with a barrage of critical reviews: Variety called it a “slick, crotch-grabbing sidestep” around Jackson’s “complex legacy”, and The New York Times said writer Lynn Nottage – the first woman in history to win two drama Pulitzers – had compromised by “noting [Jackson’s] minor oddities while avoiding the most troubling accusations against him”.

However, reviewers also praised the show’s superbly talented cast and energetic direction by acclaimed ballet choreographer Christopher Wheeldon.

On the night this masthead visited, a full house whooped its approval, during and at the climax of the performance. The audience was notably more diverse than the average house for an expensive Broadway production: Jackson remains a superhero in black culture, and the show emphasises the trail he blazed for inclusivity in the music business.