By Kimberly Rau
The Providence Performing Arts Center is hosting the national tour of “The Bodyguard,” a musical version of the 1992 film hit starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, through Sunday. And while I don’t usually have high praise for many recent musicals made after movies, this production has a lot going for it.
To be clear, it’s not the storyline. The plot is now, as it was in the film, about as thin as a 90s supermodel. She’s a superstar. Someone’s after her. He’s the bodyguard with the tough exterior and the heart of gold. They fall in love, but it’s just not meant to be. Curtain.
However, the film’s soundtrack is one of the best-selling of all time. It was the music and the cast that made the movie, and it’s the same thing that makes this tour worth your while. The show is packed with one Whitney Houston hit after another, far more than on the film soundtrack, and the people who sing it could give Ms. Houston a run for her money.
I cannot say enough about Brooke Bailey, who plays the fictional 90s sensation Rachel Marron. Bailey has a commanding stage presence, enough to immediately convince you when the curtain rises that she is, in fact, the front woman for the pack of highly talented dancers flanking her. Rachel is a woman who knows what she wants and won’t be deterred from her goals, and Bailey has everyone else on stage wrapped around her finger. And then there’s her voice. For two-plus hours, Bailey tackles one difficult song after another without breaking a sweat. I particularly loved her vocals in “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” “One Moment in Time,” and, of course, “I Will Always Love You,” which brought down the house.
But there’s another woman on that stage trying to get just a little of Rachel’s limelight for herself. That’s sister Nicki, who finds herself in the shadows more often than she’d like, tending to the little details and helping her sister write songs. Andrea Simpson handles this role well. It’s clear talent runs in this fictional family, because Simpson is just as vocally blessed as Bailey. Some standouts include a smooth “Saving All My Love,
and a heartbreaking “All At Once.”
Frank the bodyguard can’t sing – or so he claims. Jonathan Blansfield does a great job as the all-business Frank, but when it comes time for him to sing at karaoke, it’s clear we’ve got a great singer trying to pretend he can’t hold a tune. (Don’t worry, we get to hear him clearly in the encore number.) Blansfield and Bailey have nice chemistry, which makes up for the fact the script doesn’t do too much to bring them together. We know they’re supposed to fall in love, and they do. Like I said, you’re not watching for the story.
The costumes, sets and lights are well-done and evoke a vintage feel that feels correct for LA in the 90s. The orchestra is lively and kept pace with the dancers, and the choreography is on point, and executed by a very talented ensemble.
The tour is blessed with a phenomenally talented cast, and that covers for the fact that the script feels clunky at times. Another strike: That this is a non-union tour, and it’s a shame these talented actors are making a fraction of what equity actors could command, without health insurance and union protections. That might seem out of scope for a review, but it’s not when there’s precious little difference between ticket prices. Still, you’re going to leave happy, whether you loved the source material or are new to the story. Catch it in Providence before the weekend is out.
“The Bodyguard” runs through Sunday, Oct, 25, 2026, at the Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset St., Providence. Tickets may be obtained at the box office, online at ppacri.org or by calling 401.421.2787
