When Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton played Rachel Marron in The Bodyguard The Musical three years ago, I gave her a hard time for being too much the pop star and not enough the actor: how quickly things can change with a fresh face.

Understudy Mireia Mambo stepped up to the plate last night after a no-show by Florida’s very own Sidonie Smith, and what a pleasure it was to watch the enthusiasm of a woman probably given short notice to curtain up.

She was so committed to the role, gave it her all for two hours and performed as if it were her first, or last, outing for many a week: maybe it was.

Needless to say, she not only had a great set of pipes, but she was so well matched to the suitably understated ‘greyness’ of her bodyguard Frank Farmer, aka Adam Garcia, another perfect fit for the role made so famous by Kevin Costner in the 1992 film.

This felt like a totally different musical and, from my utter complacency in 2023, when I felt the showl had fizzled out like a spent catherine wheel, I felt revitalised by last night’s Alhambra production which, dare I admit, I enjoyed from start to finish, despite previously having been dismissive of the show.

Was it me or was it the musical that had changed? The latter I would venture: more dynamic, tighter and with a few refinements here and there to lift the overall production.

I would like to have seen Sidonie Smith but, Spain’s Mireia Mambo did the stage and director, Thea Sharrock proud.

The Bodyguard The Musical, presenting an incredibly demanding vocal role for the leading lady, has broken a lot of records and still issues ‘do not sing’ warnings to the karaoke brigade who, in their enthusiasm, have been keen to singalong with Whitney (Houston!), attracting negative publicity and theatre ejections along the way!

It is not hard to understand why because all the standards are in there: Greatest Love of All, How Will I Know, I’m Every Woman, Run To You, and lots more.

Add to that a classic romantic story line: superstar falls for her bodyguard, they sleep together, he pulls back, she gets upset and then he takes a bullet for her. Top it off with I Will Always Love You and you’ve got a musical that will run and run from generation to generation.

The theatre was rammed to capacity - people always love a good weepie - and The Bodyguard The Musical delivers every time.

Great choreography by Karen Bruce and her dynamic team of dancers, a wonderful performance by Sasha Monique as Rachel’s ‘in the shadows’ sister, Nicki Marron – she had a complementary voice to Mambo’s – not forgetting Marron’s talented young son, Fletcher, last night played by Adam Bartlett, a veteran of the West End and the title role as Little Michael Jackson in MJ the Musical.

If I may eat humble pie for a few seconds….are you ready? Go to the Alhambra, you’ll love it. There, I’ve said it!

The Bodyguard The Musical
Alhambra
Until Saturday 13th June