Here's how 19th-century French history inspired 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical' | London Theatre

Many elements of the award-winning show, from its title to its characters to its decor, are inspired by real people and places from a bygone era of France.Gillian Russo25 May, 2022, 12:59"Welcome to the Moulin Rouge!" That’s how cabaret owner Harold Zidler greets audiences arriving at Moulin Rouge! The Musical in London. And it’s potentially how the similarly named Charles Zidler also greeted patrons more than 100 years ago. Both Moulin Rouge! The Musical, and the 2001 Baz Luhrmann film, take their name from a real Parisian nightclub where can-can dance was born.The main story of Moulin Rouge! The Musical is pure fiction: A writer and a showgirl fall into a forbidden romance that’s threatened by, among other things, a jealous Duke whose money keeps the club afloat. They also sing lots of contemporary pop songs that wouldn’t be written for another 100 years.But Luhrmann and the musical’s creators did borrow from some actual French history to recreate the world of the Moulin Rouge for th...