Thriller Live! (Tour – Bristol)

Thriller Live! really is a show of two halves. Less kicking and more crawling off to a disappointing start, the opening act of the Michael Jackson tribute showcase bears resemblance to a school musical or gang show.

An awkwardly delivered narration runs throughout the timeline of Jackson’s songs from the works of the Jackson 5, such as "ABC" and "I’ll Be There" through to his death during the ‘This Is It’ tour.

It comes as quite a surprise that rather than a performance led by a Jackson lookalike, the show is a mix of group and solo numbers from Jackson’s extensive collection, by various male and female artists.

Credit must be handed to lead female vocalist Cleopatra Higgins, whose vocal prowess carries the show, and it also becomes clear that she is also quite the mover.

The second half delivers where the first half fails. Jam-packed with ferociously entertaining numbers from the upbeat "Beat It" and "Black or White", this would be a successful standalone performance in itself. The cast appear more comfortable in their roles and there isn’t a number that fails to exceed expectations.

Higgins’ rendition of "The Way You Make Me Feel" is truly inspired and the moonwalking Jackson doppelgänger, Sean Christopher, astounded the audience with his lifelike impression of the legendary singer. Particular highlights come during the suave moves of "Smooth Criminal", the sultry dancing of "Dirty Diana", and the fancy footwork of "Billie Jean", lighting up the staircase, reflecting the famous paving slabs in Jackson’s 1982 music video.

Members of the incredible on-stage band make regular appearances throughout the performance which builds towards the grand "Thriller" finale.

While the first half was more miss amongst the hits, the second half justified the ticket price alone. A fun-filled tribute to a well-loved performer, the glitz and glamour makes Thriller Live! a thrilling night at the theatre.