'Moulin Rouge!' Musical Wows Seoul with Extravagant Visuals and Pop-Packed Score
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
The Seoul production of the musical 'Moulin Rouge!' transforms Blue Square into a dazzling Belle Époque (late 19th-century French cultural period) cabaret, featuring massive sets, Swarovski-studded costumes and a reported 39.5 billion won production budget. Based on Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 film and the 2018 stage adaptation, the show foregrounds spectacle over narrative: lavish visuals (including a giant Eiffel Tower) are matched by a high-energy soundtrack that weaves over 70 pop songs—from Beyoncé and Adele to Elton John—into inventive medleys. The show’s musical centerpiece, the “Elephant Love Medley,” stitches together lines from iconic love songs to convey shifting emotions between the lovers Satine and Christian. Performances are praised for athletic ensemble work and standout leads who balance glamour with emotional depth. After tragedy strikes, the production returns to upbeat can-can spectacle, underscoring the show’s theme that the performance — and the bohemian spirit of love and art — must go on. Runs through Feb. 22 at Blue Square Shinhan Card Hall.
