What’s love got to do with it? In “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” everything, regardless of whether it’s earned or bought.
The Broadway screen-to-stage adaptation of writer-director Baz Luhrmann’s eye-popping 2001 film is set in a theatrically reimagined version of the actual Moulin Rouge, the Parisian cabaret that was founded in 1889 and made the French cancan famous.
The musical made its Broadway debut in 2019 and won ten Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Though it depicts a far more playful side of Paris than “Les Misérables,” it is not without its hardships — both fictional and real-life.
The touring production was slated to launch in New Orleans at the Saenger Theatre in November 2020. The COVID pandemic scuttled those plans; the touring “Moulin Rouge!” ended up launching in Chicago in March 2022.
Courtney Reed as the character Satine in "Moulin Rouge! The Musical."
A year later, it has finally made its way to the Saenger.
During Friday's show, no cast members showed obvious signs of distress. But the two performances scheduled for the following day were canceled due to an unspecified illness, or illnesses, within the cast. The production resumed April 9 and is scheduled to run through Sunday.
The 2001 movie starred Nicole Kidman as Satine, the beautiful star of the Moulin Rouge who moonlights as a courtesan, and Ewan McGregor as Christian, the young songwriter who falls for her.
At the Saenger on Friday, John Cardoza played Christian. Cardoza is no stranger to romantic tales: He originated the role of “Young Noah” in the musical adaptation of “The Notebook.”
Cardoza brought an inherent naivety and youthful enthusiasm to Christian, newly arrived in the Montmartre Quarter of Paris from Lima, Ohio, at the turn of the 20th century. He falls in with committed bohemians Toulouse-Lautrec (Nick Rashad Burroughs) and Santiago the Argentinian (Gabe Martinez), who are trying, without success, to finish a musical.
They decide that Christian’s songs are the missing ingredient and prod him to screen them for Satine, as played Friday by Courtney Reed.
Meanwhile, the Moulin Rouge’s ringleader/ringmaster, Harold Zidler (Austin Durant), is pushing Satine to seduce the loathsome Duke of Monroth (Andrew Brewer) in the hopes of raising much-needed capital for the club.
Adéa Michelle Sessoms, left, and Jennifer Wolfe in a scene from the North American touring production of "Moulin Rouge! The Musical."
Satine initially mistakes Christian for the Duke and misdirects her seduction at him. Christian falls for her, and vice versa, even as Satine must lead on the Duke. The plot pivots on the angles of that love triangle.
The sumptuous sets shift from the gray clouds and rooftops of a Parisian street scene to the intricately filigreed, multi-layered hearts of the Moulin Rouge stage. In one especially nifty, and literal, turn, the set piece of Satine’s dressing room spins around and blends into a starry sky. The costumes are equally lavish.
Reed’s strength as a singer is no secret. She originated the role of Princess Jasmine in the Broadway musical adaptation of Disney’s “Aladdin” and is featured on the 2014 original Broadway cast recording. As Satine on Friday, Reed navigated a smoldering “Firework” before lighting it up like Katy Perry.
When interacting with Cardoza’s Christian, her Satine could seem as distant as she was with the Duke. Perhaps that was her courtesan character’s default demeanor.
Martinez’s Santiago and Nini, as played by Libby Lloyd, generated far more heat during their handsy, sexy tango to Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.” Durant seemed to relish playing Zidler large. Burroughs’ Toulouse was especially rich.
Gabe MartÍnez as Santiago and Libby Lloyd as Nini in 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical.'
This jukebox musical is not stuck in the past. While some songs from the 2001 movie remain, including the signature “Lady Marmalade," the show's updated, essential playlist gleefully samples a nonstop procession of more contemporary hits. Sia’s “Chandelier,” from 2014, illuminates a green-tinged scene involving absinthe. Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” from 2011, is also prominently featured.
Such borrowed lyrics cleverly drive the plot. Toulouse and Santiago celebrate their proletariat status with Lorde’s “Royals” (“we’ll never be royals/It don’t run in our blood”).
Satine celebrates her desire for the good life in a mash-up of “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” Madonna’s “Material Girl” and Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It),” after making a glittering entrance on a trapeze. Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got To Do With It” is hitched to Norwegian synth-pop band a-ha’s 1985 hit “Take On Me” and several other snippets.
Elton John’s “Your Song” might as well have been written for Satine and Christian. The Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil” and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” are likewise a fitting vehicle for the Duke of Monroth to introduce himself.
Courtney Reed and Conor Ryan in a scene from "Moulin Rouge! The Musical." Ryan is not part of the touring production that is playing at the Saenger Theatre in April 2023.
The production’s orchestra, conducted by keyboardist Andrew Graham and heavy on guitars and drums, nimbly segued between songs, genres and eras.
Humor is woven throughout the show. It’s present in the puppet Santiago deploys as he and his companions make up the plot of a play to pitch to the Duke, and when Toulouse, while directing the musical-within-a-musical, mockingly mimics his lead actors.
When one of the female dancers complains about her corset with, “It hurts. I’m all tied down,” a male dancer in drag quips, “Tell me about it.”
The cancan and “Lady Marmalade” get their due in the opening number, a pinwheel of primary-colored skirts and patterned fishnet stockings decorating members of the ensemble.
But the show really picks up steam in the second act, especially with a show-stopper of a choreographed piece, “Backstage Romance,” built on “Bad Romance.”
Romance -- not just bad, but also beautiful and bold -- rules “Moulin Rouge.”
“Moulin Rouge! The Musical” continues at the Saenger Theatre with shows at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 8 p.m. on Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $39 plus fees.