There is no gentle introduction to hit musical The Bodyguard. There are gunshots and a scuffle as the hero of the show, the brooding Frank Farmer, impressively portrayed by Ayden Callaghan, arrives on stage. 

Frank is the best bodyguard money can buy and has been hired to protect a diva superstar, Rachel Marron, and her family. Rachel doesn’t believe she needs protecting and resents the intrusion. Frank, for his part, doesn’t want to protect a spoilt and uncooperative prima donna! 

Melody Thornton of Pussycat Dolls fame plays Rachel - a role made famous in the original 1992 film by the late Whitney Houston. She is quite simply sensational, nailing every one of Whitney’s songs, and doing so with an ever-greater intensity as the show progresses. Her dancing and acting are every bit as impressive as her singing. 

Emily-Mae Walker, who plays Rachel’s long-suffering sister, Nicki, deserves equal credit. Her powerful solos and harmonies with Thornton are simply breathtaking, as Nicki gives voice to her desire to find fame and love, despite having to live in the shadow of her superstar sibling.

Marios Nicolaides as Rachel’s stalker is at times palpably frightening and provides some real edge-of-the-seat moments. Eventually, Rachel realises that she really is in danger and needs protection. Despite Frank’s reluctance to mix his professional life with his personal, his relationship with the singer eventually blossoms romantically...

As with the film, the much-loved songs made famous by Whitney are the real stars of the show: One Moment In Time, Saving All My Love, I Have Nothing, Run To You, Greatest Love Of All, and of course the classic I Will Always Love You. And with first-class performances from the entire cast, spectacular choreography, high-energy singing & dancing, and fabulous costumes and sets to further recommend the show, there’s little wonder it continues to draw big audiences wherever it plays.

If you loved the film, you will undoubtedly enjoy this feelgood musical. Last night’s standing ovation, and the audience’s unbridled enthusiasm when invited to join in the encore - a performance of I Wanna Dance With Somebody - was a joy to behold. It’s reasonable to assume plenty of audience members were happily belting out the show’s hit songs on the way home!

Four stars

Reviewed by Sue Hull at Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, where it runs until Saturday (13 May). It visits Birmingham at the end of the year, showing at The Alexandra from Monday 4 to Saturday 30 December.