The Bodyguard
Congress Theatre, Eastbourne
until Saturday 22nd August
The Bodyguard, the musical is based upon the well known 1992 film which marked Whitney Houston’s film acting debut. Without giving too much away the opening scene starts dramatically so be prepared for a shock or two along the way. Given that the premise of the show that Rachel Marrons (portrayed at this performance by Mireia Mambo) life is under threat from ‘The Stalker’ (James-Lee Harris), I would advise a trigger warning regarding this and descriptions and scenes of violence.
It is important to note that alongside the dark overall concept of the show and the employment of Frank Farmer (Adam Garcia) as Rachels new bodyguard. There are many fun, lively and ‘hot’ numbers which feature tight choreography alongside breathtaking vocals from the cast. There are also many endearing moments in the show, primarily surrounding family bonds and love, and the complexity of safeguarding these when there is a stalker in the mix.
At the performance that I saw Rachels 10-year-old son, Fletcher was played by Ebrahim Joof. Given the subject matter of the show, this is a complex subject matter for a young actor to tackle. But I was absolutely blown away by him, fabulous dancing skills, a stunning voice that effortlessly belted out some of Whitneys greatest hits. Alongside a heartwarming and believable acting performance, truly a triple threat and someone to look out for the future as he continues in his career.
There was some light-hearted relief in the scene which Frank takes Rachel out for the night, unbeknownst to him it is Karaoke night. Upon loosing their bet, Frank takes to the microphone for a very off key but endearing performance which appears to make him all the more desirable to Rachel (after an initial rocky start). Adam Garcia delivers a convincing performance as the stoic Frank Farmer, who ends up in the seemingly age-old battle of love versus duty as his developing feelings for Rachel create a conflict for him in carrying out his professional role.
There are some elements of modernisation in this musical production which are consistent with the current era, such as smart phones and Instagram posts. Updating the story from the original setting in the 1990s. The show was well paced, and all of the musical numbers were drawn from Whitney Houston’s greatest hits. The audience were welcomed to join in by the cast with one of those numbers following the Curtain Call. This certainly bought a great energy to the theatre and ended the night on a high following some tense scenes throughout the show.
Overall, this was a fantastic night at the theatre, that I would recommend. With a fantastic cast, great energy and a must see for any fans of Whitney Houston.
The Bodyguard is playing at the Congress Theatre, Eastbourne until 22nd August 2026.
Reviewer: Lisa Dawn