Hugh Jackman: From New York, With Love review – the showman hits Broadway again

It has become Jackman's biggest film to date, with a global box office total of over £1 billion, with audiences similarly enthusiastic about Logan's return as enthusiastic as the hero himself. On the other hand, Jackman had portrayed this character for 17 years before Logan's poignant conclusion, suggesting that he might still rely on it in some way, which in turn makes his 2025 residency shows - 24 or so, running through October at New York's Radio City Music Hall, plus a headlining appearance at BST Hyde Park in London that summer - a celebration of the song and dance routines he clearly enjoys, as well as a reaffirmation of his enduring star appeal.

Related: English theatre critic – highly enjoyable and emotionally powerful winner of the Pulitzer Prize makes its West End debut.

As the show itself is, it’s convincingly done - could many leading Hollywood stars command sold-out crowds at Radio City for a diverse selection of musicals and show tunes? While 'Hugh Jackman: From New York, With Love' isn't solo, it revolve around Jackman with a small ensemble supporting him, including a separate stage performance by Lauren Blackman on the Saturday night show. Jackman takes his role seriously while also aiming to keep things light-hearted; early in the Saturday evening performance, he outlined the show's 110-minute programme and playfully pointed to a handout showing the locations of Radio City's toilets, encouraging the audience to take breaks as they see fit, rather than waiting for the perfect moment. In essence, the setting had a pop-star concert feel rather than a traditional Broadway show. The setlist seems to change from show to show, drawing from a wide range of musicals, including The Music Man, Oklahoma!, Les Misérables, The Boy from Oz, and the hit film The Greatest Showman.

He even gave us a sneak peek at his next film, Song Sung Blue, in which he features as part of a Neil Diamond tribute act, singing a rendition of Sweet Caroline at a wedding reception, complete with cringe-worthy cheesiness and a crowd-supplied "ba ba ba" effect.

In these moments, Jackman walks a fine line between charisma and coming across as insincere, and not every performance on Saturday was equally impressive. He delivered Ya Got Trouble from The Music Man with remarkable precision, but struggled a bit on You Will Be Found from Dear Evan Hansen – not a show starring Jackman, although it features songs by the songwriters behind The Greatest Showman, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Some of the context behind his song choices was almost as captivating as the songs themselves, as when he introduced a performance of Stars from Les Miserables, recounting how he'd sung it at a hopeless audition for a Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast, failing to hit the final high note. He also visibly got choked up recalling his late father.

Fans will likely leave the show satisfied with Jackman's lively energy and persistence, but it's unclear what this complete picture of his capabilities looks like. Though his current portrayal is impressive, it appears to be revisiting the same successful formula established in earlier performances. As a result, his versatility as a performer is somewhat diminished. His exceptional work in films like Bad Education and The Prestige is notable for its departure from comic-book spiels and grand musical themes. It's a challenging task for actors to balance a dual career in film and concert performance - but if more of them could manage it, the film and theatre industries may suffer. Nonetheless, it's fair to give Jackman and his loyal fans the satisfaction of this celebration of his talents.

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