I’d never watched The Bodyguard, the 1992 film starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner. But I’d seen the vinyl soundtrack in the Salvation Army, and I hated Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. So I was definitely intrigued at the prospect of witnessing The Bodyguard: The Musical.
Like Road House, The Bodyguard belongs to a lineage of films that pay tribute to the Heroic Guy Who Is A Security Guard. Paul Blart: Mall Cop does not count, as the titular character is a constant source of ridicule, whereas Swayze was out there workin’ the door and rippin’ dudes’ throats.
With the plot’s basic premise under my belt, I entered the Ed Mirvish Theatre with a host of questions, also under my belt. By the time the curtain closed, I had my answers.
- Would Frank Farmer find love? Definitely, if it’s possible to be truly, madly, deeply, head-over-heels in love with the art of providing personal security to rich people.
- Would he leave a trail of bodies in his wake? Not exactly, although you could argue that that was kind of his fault. An isolated cabin, Frank? REALLY?
- Would Rachel Marron win that…Oscar? Let’s just say she’s halfway to an EGOT.
- Does the (relative) danger of being The Bodyguard excite Frank more than the touch of a woman? It’s probable.
- Do I like musical theatre? Fuck yeah.
The Bodyguard is big. It’s awesome. And it’s very well sung.
Beverley Knight has an amazing voice, hitting all the high notes – and this is Whitney Houston, so there are, like, thousands of them – with aplomb. Rachel John, as sister Nicki, does the same. Stuart Reid doesn’t sing, but he’s got a certain inscrutable charm. Is he dry? Is he erudite? Is he droll? He may have been too much of all three to actually tell. Either way, he’s THE Bodyguard, so he can do whatever the hell he wants.
The finale was, of course, a stirring rendition of I Will Always Love You. Knight knocked it out of the goddamn park. There was a smoke machine. There was a rising platform. There was a standing ovation. I got outta there, and went home to listen to the soundtrack.
Get cheap tickets to see The Bodyguard: The Musical with SD’s exclusive promotion code here.
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