I’ll come right out and say it, Labyrinth is one of my all-time favourite films. The old adage is true, ‘they don’t make ’em like they used to!’ and this cult classic stands the test of time. After 40 years, the hit film is touring with a live band to welcome diehard fans and those new to the magic of Jim Henson…
In an age of lazy AI, it’s refreshing to see all creature effects done solely through puppetry – courtesy of the Jim Henson team. There are practical effects throughout too, and even Jareth’s glass ball tricks were delivered by (hidden) juggling master Michael Mode. There’s clearly still a lot of love for the 1986 film – the venue was packed, and many fans had dressed up in some of the more memorable film costumes.
The plot follows fantasy fan Sarah (Jennifer Connelley) who accidentally banishes her baby brother to the goblin city, ruled over Goblin King Jareth (David Bowie) Jareth offers her the chance to rescue said brother, by completing his labyrinthian maze of twists, turns and traps. Along the way we meet the loveable Ludo, loyal Sir Didymus and the surly Hoggle, plus a whole host of goblins…
The score of the film is delivered live by a talented band who appear on stage for the duration. It isn’t only the songs that receive musical accompaniment, but also much of the underscoring and incidental music – there’s very little time the band aren’t playing. A gong takes centre stage, and other instruments include keys, guitar, electric guitar, bass, saxophone and drums.
A smart lighting design also adds to the magic, with flashes of lightning as Jareth appears on a stormy night, a fiery glow during the song Chilly Down with the Fierys and swirling projections during the dreamy masked ball sequence.
The Barbican is an ideal venue for this film/concert hybrid. Although large, there isn’t a bad view in the house and the seating is tiered so that everyone can see. Sound was crystal clear, and the image quality on the huge HD screen was sharp.
But does it work? Yes and no. The evening opened with the conductor encouraging participation by singing along, shouting and cheering. From the opening scene it was clear that the film would be subtitled, perhaps to help those hard of hearing. However, subtitles throughout became distracting at times, and I’d have been reaching for the remote to turn them off at home…
During the songs though, there weren’t any lyrics onscreen at, almost as if to discourage singing along. This led to people trying to sing, but not always knowing the words, and not sure whether they could – or should – be joining in.
This not-quite-cinema not-quite-concert vibe is jarring at times, and leads to some confusion of what exactly the experience is trying to be. If we compare for example The Rocky Horror Singalong experience, there is an audience participation script with clear cues of when to join in, and a bag of props to use at key moments.
This reviewer feels Labyrinth: In Concert could’ve been pitched as either fully interactive, or not all, rather than some shaky ground between. An interval feels superfluous in a short film too.
The experience commands a high price tag, with tickets ranging from £45 to £80. A merch stand in the foyer also saw t-shirts at £25 and hoodies at £50. This isn’t a cheap night out, but if you’re a fan of the iconic film it’s certainly a treat to see it on the big screen, and with live music.
If you do book, we recommend staying through the credits. The band continue to play an excellent medley of songs, but many audience members were up and out sharpish, as if it was a mere cinema trip. Others were up (Magic) Dancing in the aisles, but many left before the band had chance to take a Bow-ie.
Film
Experience
Labyrinth: In Concert is touring the UK, before continuing a global tour in Canada and the USA.
Disclaimer: Tickets were kindly provided for this performance, however all opinions are honest and are our own.
Review Wizard 