Co-founded in 1889 by Charles Zidler and Joseph Oller, Moulin Rouge (Red Mill) with the red Windmill on its roof is a cabaret in Paris, France. The birthplace of the modern form of the can-can dance was an alluring dance used to seduce wealthy, consequential, or influential clients by the courtesans.

Mistinguett was a famous can-can French actress and singer who was the highest-paid female entertainer globally; she was a can-can dancing star of the Moulin Rouge. This unique dance with frenetic rhythm and titillating costumes inspired by the quadrille is a square dance designed for four couples with five figures. Each is a complete dance with a collection of enticing, elegant, and provocative outfits that hypnotized its patrons, leading to cabarets across Europe.

On October 6, 1889, the Moulin Rouge opened in the Jardin de Paris. The cabaret featured an extravagant setting and a gigantic elephant, where socialites and low lives were permitted to mingle. The founders' goal was to allow the very rich to come and 'slum it,' fearing no judgment as they slithered back into their aristocratic lifestyle. The Moulin Rouge was where Bohemians and aristocrats of all social and economic backgrounds rubbed shoulders together as they passed through the night.

As part of our travels to review plays showcased in New York and Chicago, our first theatrical review is Moulin Rouge. Set in various parts of Paris, the musical relates the story of Christian, a young composer, who falls in love with cabaret actress Satine, who is the star of the Moulin Rouge. Christian becomes infatuated with Satine, a singer; however, the owner of the Moulin Rouge, Harold Zidler, has promised Satine to a Duke of Monroth in return for funding his next production. However, the bohemian aristocrat named Toulouse-Lautrec has also made an arrangement for Satine to meet Christian.

As their lives intertwine at this popular nightspot, they meet and fall in love, but Satine discovers he is not the Duke and is forced into secretly meeting with Christian. The Duke believes he can buy anything he wants, including love demands from Zidler, Satine's total obedience to him, or he will destroy Moulin Rouge and the band of deviants forever. Christian and Satine continue to meet in secret, but Satine hid a fatal secret from both Christian and the Duke that will change their lives and Moulin Rouge's future.

I remember hearing about this jukebox musical romantic drama called Moulin Rouge with Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor and thinking it would be a waste of my time; seeing this movie. But, by chance, when I turned on the television one day, Moulin Rouge was about to begin, and I had nothing else to watch, so I let it play, and boy was I glad I did. I loved the songs, singing, and dancing and was equally flabbergasted that Kidman and McGregor sang the songs.

As you walk into the Al Hirshfeld Theatre, you witness why they say New York spares no expenses on the productions with stunning set design and elaborate choreography. Our eyes instantly focus on the glistening red stage with 3D dimension hearts and bold and larger-than-life letters spelling out Moulin Rouge. Then you notice that seats are lowered within the stage for people to get an up-close view, making them feel like they are a part of the performance. You look to your left and see the iconic Windmill glowing bright red with yellow lite windows and moveable blades with flashing lights as you look up. And if that doesn't get you excited, you look to your right and see the face of a gigantic blue elephant with a long tusk shimmering under the red lights, and your soul is ready for a night of exhilarating joy. The stage setting alone is why New York is the home of great production, and New York's Moulin Rouge will give its second city, brother, Chicago's Moulin Rouge, a run for its money.

As the show begins, you enter a world of glamour and spectacle, with bohemian characters strolling on stage, revealing where artists, aristocrats, and ambitious members of society come to find love or lust. Then the lights slowly fade to dark. The audience is mesmerized when four courtesans appear on stage singing, "Hey sista, go sista, soul sista, flow sista," from the song Lady Marmalade as we prepare for the spectacular spectacular... Welcome to Moulin Rouge! The Musical.

Moulin Rouge features 70 songs credited to 160 songwriters, administered by 30 publishers, representing over 160 years of music. The Satine and Christian's love ballad, "Come What May," composed by David Baerwald and Kevin Gilbert, was written for Romeo and Juliet; but wasn't used and became the Moulin Rouge theme song.

Moulin Rouge is by far one of New York's best theatrical events on Broadway. This play is bedazzling with stunning and lavish music, costumes, and staging. Moulin Rouge's main characters for the night we were there were Aaron Tvett (Christian) and Ashley Loren (Satine), originally played by Natalie Mendoza. Tvett, a native of New York, won the 2020 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and received a 2020 Grammy Award nomination was exceptional as the love-sick Christian. Known for his roles as Gabe in Next to Normal and Frank Abagnale Jr. in the stage version of Catch Me If You Can on Broadway, Tvett's vocal range seems to be a combination of classic lite opera mixed with 90's pop is somewhat limited. However, his overall performance is solid.

Another solid performance came from Ashley Loren. Currently, the standby for Satine, Loren, will probably assume the primary role after Natalie Mendoza, along with Aaron Tveit, Tam Mutu, and Ricky Rojas, perform their final performance in "Moulin Rouge!" on May 8th. Although new casting for the roles of Christian, Satine, the Duke, and Santiago has yet to be announced, casting Loren as the lead would be a logical next step.

Tam Mutu (The Duke of Monroth) and Ricky Rojas, who plays Santiago with an imperial mustache, wowed audiences with his moves in the steamy number Roxanne. Both Mutu and Rojas will be hard to replace. On the bright side, Eric Anderson, who plays Harold Zidler (parody of Charles Zidler, the first owner of the real Moulin Rouge), is staying with Moulin Rouge. Anderson succeeds Tony winner Danny Burstein in the Tony-winning musical at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre as the club impresario Zidler. Anderson has appeared on Broadway in the original casts of Kinky Boots, Rocky, The Last Ship, Soul Doctor, Pretty Woman, and Waitress was fantastic as the outlandish Zidler. Jessica Lee Goldyn is one of Zidler's new legendary Diamond Dogs, Nini. Goldyn said that playing Nini is the most high-energy role she's ever performed; credits include A Chorus Line, Hello, Dolly!, and Finding Neverland. Rounding out the Diamond Dogs are Jacqueline B Arnold (La Chocolat), Tasia Jungbauer (Arabia), and Kevin Curtis as Baby Doll.

My favorite performance goes to Sahr Ngaujah, playing the bohemian nightlife-loving aristocrat, Toulouse-Lautrec, who had his heart set on producing a truly revolutionary play. Ngaujah was magnificent as Toulouse-Lautrec, and his chemistry with Tveit and Loren was warming, enthralling, and will enrapture your heart.

Moulin Rouge is an enthralling, captivating, and beguiling story of love that will survive, Come What May.

Let's Play Highly Recommends Moulin Rouge at the Al Hirschfield Theatre in New York. We see the Chicago performance of Moulin Rouge on April 6th.