DON’T blame it on the sunshine, don’t blame it on the moonlight, blame it on the directors of Thriller Live for not including every Michael Jackson song possible.

Of course I am kidding, but what is so good about it is that it left me yearning for more tracks from the King of Pop at the Bristol Hippodrome on Monday night.

In the space of just over two hours, the cast of singers and dancers get through a whopping 35 songs, although my theatre buddy rued the fact that Heal the World didn’t make it, you can’t please everyone.

Over the course of the night, five singers share out the singing duties: Shaquille Hemmans, Ina Seidou, Rory Taylor, Britt Quintin and Eddy Lima.

The latter two, for me, stole the show.

I shut my eyes for a moment when Britt, who is also the resident director, was singing, They don’t care about us, and it was spooky how similar he sounded to the late great man.

And Eddy’s dance moves were just mesmerising.

The moonwalk, the lean, the look – he was fantastic.

So when the two combined for Smooth Criminal, my favourite on the night, I was leaning so far forward in my chair out of excitement, I was pretty much giving the seat in front of me a piggy back.

That isn’t to say the other singers weren’t good, but Britt and Eddy set the bar incredibly high.

Every single song had a difference dance routine and probably every second or third song required a costume change from the exuberant and talented dancing crew.

I have to say, I have never been so active and perspired so much on a night at the theatre.

It really is remarkable what a unique talent Michael Jackson was. What five people did in a very admirable and impressive way, he packed all that genius into one person – truly remarkable. But if you don’t like Michael Jackson… just beat it.

RICHARD MILLS