One thing's for certain, The Bodyguard opened with a bang - or to be more precise - a single gunshot which rang out across the chattering crowd and signalled the start of the show.
From the first moment, the audience was given an insight into the intensity that would reemerge throughout the following two-and-a-half hours, as a stellar cast embarked on a familiar Hollywood tale which was at points tragic, funny, and overwhelming.
The tour marks X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke's second return to the role of Rachel Marron, in which she formerly appeared both during a triumphant run in the West End and the ensuing UK-wide tour in 2015/2016.
At its heart the production, which continually wows with extravagant lighting and sound effects, is centred on the relationship between Marron and her new bodyguard Frank Farmer (Benoît Maréchal), which gradually thaws as the pair are confronted with tragedy and an ever-escalating risk to her safety.
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This is a show that wastes no time with subtle detail or half shades - the music is loud, the colours bright, almost every dramatic moment is presented as a life-or-death situation.
By far one of the most striking aspects of the show is the flawless set and lighting design - compiled of innumberable moving parts the stage is almost constantly in flux, framing some of the production's most intimate scenes and illuminating the explosive full-throttle group numbers.
The Bodyguard is of course best known as the 1992 film starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, and it is likely for this reason that the musical version often appears cinematic, with video projections shone onto an enormous screen.
At times these are more effective than others, with large-scale videos of starring roles Marron and Farmer prompting little reaction other than laughter due to their overwhelmingly large size. However, these video clips also provide another dimension, bringing the audience much closer as an audience looking as much for a thriller as it is a classic love story.
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It is these same lighting and sound effects that also create a powerful distortion of time at key moments of suspense - whenever Marron is approached by the mysterious stalker (Phil Atkinson) time suddenly grinds almost to a halt, depicting the moment of panic perfectly.
The entire show has the distinct feeling of a high-end West End performance, and many factors contribute toward creating a production that wouldn't look in any way out of place on some of the capital's largest stages.
The title itself is entirely synonymous with Houston's classic ballad version of I Will Always Love You, and it is the late superstar's music that weaves a common thread through a plot that often seems much larger than life.
From the simplicity and stripped-back charm of Micha Richardson's (Nikki Marron) Saving All My Love For You, to the dizzying I'm Every Woman, the appearance of some of the world's most recognisable hits showcases just how broad Houston's range truly was, and opens up an entirely new and somehow relatable aspect to the show.
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One of the most impressive aspects of the performance is just how utterly dominated it is by Burke's sensational performance - she sings in the vast majority of scenes and is almost without exception the lead voice on each song.
Even the ensemble cast, who consistently shine through incredibly intricate and acrobatic dance routines, struggle to keep up with her, such is the level of intensity at which not only does she sing or dance, but also communicates the near-constant intensity of her character's story. Her softened American accent remains believable throughout, too.
The final performance, a full-power rendition of I Will Always Love You complete with masterful lighting design, a dazzling bejewelled costume, smoke machines aplenty, and an elevated platform, leaves a profound lasting impression.
The show's end may prove somewhat inconclusive, but one thing is for certain - this is not a production to be missed. Thrilling, beautifully staged, and packed to the brim with tunes you'll know word-for-word, The Bodyguard is surely one of this year's must-see musicals.
The Bodyguard will run at The Hippodrome until Saturday April 6, and will tour the United Kingdom and Ireland until August 2019.
