Jacquinn Sinclair

The incredibly talented cast — three of whom portray Michael Jackson at different points in his life — explored the star’s life through song and hinted at his troubles around the costly 1992 Dangerous World Tour. The Tony Award-winning show, which flashes back and forth in time, has a book by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage and is choreographed and directed by Christopher Wheeldon.

The show's overt schtick bordered on absurdity in the best way (think Steve Martin and John Hoffman’s hit Hulu show “Only Murders in the Building”) and showed up in simulated running scenes throughout the mansion, intentionally unbelievable plastic pools of blood, and a three-minute murder spree. Also, a meat cleaver was brandished in the first few minutes of the play, foreshadowing a monstrously funny and deadly show ahead.

That said, the narrative lacked emotional resonance for this audience member. Despite the two-hour run time, there were so many characters, each with snippets of their own backstories, that didn’t have a chance to develop, thus making the show a little incoherent.