It’s the five-year anniversary of Moulin Rouge! on Broadway, and Robyn Hurder has decided she’s going to make us all weep into our coffees (or lunches, depending on where you are in the day).
For those who don’t know, Hurder was part of the original cast as Nini, making her an unparalleled and unforgettable force within the production. Moulin Rouge is “poignant, exquisitely captivating, and profoundly enduring for a reason”—it’s not simply the detail that it brings one of the most extraordinary films to life, but it’s because, for two-and-a-half hours, the audience members go on an indescribable journey with the characters.
I would’ve gone out of my way to watch the show regardless. I have a framed poster of Baz Luhrmann’s original film on my office wall because that’s how much I adore this world. But I went out of my way to travel to Boston and later New York as a fan of Aaron Tveit’s work, and as I’ve said before, I came out of it wanting to endlessly show my support for an entire cast of performers. From the leads to the ensemble, every person in Moulin Rouge! is worth rooting for. [It’s also why I went out of my way to make sure I caught both Robyn Hurder and Max Clayton in Chicago, too.] But again, Moulin Rouge! is special, and it’s entirely because of the cast.
I admire this entire cast because Robyn Hurder cares tremendously about the role, and upon her initial departure, I wrote about why her Tony-nominated performance deserved to be celebrated. There, I had said, “In short, the entire production is worth celebrating, and with its Tony wins, we have that. But Robyn Hurder didn’t win, yet her nominated performance is the scene-stealer worthy of tremendous praise. Hurder’s passion on stage is unparalleled—it’s magnetic, bold, seductive, and deeply vulnerable. There’s a reason the “Bad Romance” and “El Tango de Roxanne” numbers are so memorable. Between Sonya Tayeh’s jaw-dropping routines and Hurder’s passion throughout, the performances equate to works of art.“
So, when you watch Robyn Hurder’s eleven-minute reel celebrating her time in the show, I dare you not to cry because it’s damn near impossible. To sit there and create something like this (with near-perfect songs acting as excellent needle drops) seamlessly shows how much she adores the cast and the characters. As fans, we could never truly know what goes on behind the scenes; we might know some things as journalists, but we’re also in the dark sometimes. However, with Moulin Rouge! you just know this cast treasures each other and the production, because why else would certain stars (Aaron Tveit and Ricky Rojas) continue coming back? There’s magic at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, I’m sure.
The show is an electrifying euphoria and a celebration of love from beginning to end, but the cast continually makes it special, too. It’s the enchantment that’s somehow sprinkled in the air where their laughter feels infectious off-stage, too. Hurder’s video is so raw and lovely that their joy is transcendent. Watching Moulin Rouge! is an experience I could never quite describe, but I think it’s because the idea of belonging is challenging to put into words. The show makes it easy to feel like you’re welcomed—like you’re witnessing something you will tell your grandkids about. It leaves its mark on you. That’s the magic of theatre in more ways than one, but something about this show hits differently. The story, the performances, the cast’s dedication—it’s all profoundly gratifying to see.
Watch Robyn Hurder’s celebration video on Instagram.