Take one Strictly Come Dancing skilled, add one Strictly Come Dancing superstar, throw in a Strictly decide as co-choreographer and director, combine all of them right into a manufacturing of Strictly Ballroom and, nicely the group’s response in the course of the bows speaks for itself. This present is a sequined, glittered, feathered, bundle of pleasure and enjoyable. It is obvious from the beginning it is a Craig Revel Horwood piece, together with his exact and pernickety nature now we have grown to like so clear in his choreography and course. Revel Horwood and Jason Gilkison are a match made in ballroom heaven. Their choreography is…
Rating
Good
A sequined, shiny, ballroom-tastic manufacturing that lacks in some areas however excels within the dance.
Take one Strictly Come Dancing skilled, add one Strictly Come Dancing superstar, throw in a Strictly decide as co-choreographer and director, combine all of them right into a manufacturing of Strictly Ballroom and, nicely the group’s response in the course of the bows speaks for itself. This present is a sequined, glittered, feathered, bundle of pleasure and enjoyable.
It is obvious from the beginning it is a Craig Revel Horwood piece, together with his exact and pernickety nature now we have grown to like so clear in his choreography and course. Revel Horwood and Jason Gilkison are a match made in ballroom heaven. Their choreography is faultless, flawless, and is the principle spectacle of this present. The approach it floats from extra conventional Musical Theatre performances into the ballroom dances themselves is phenomenal. The duo have completely captured the ballroom championships, with each couple doing a novel and perfected dance that leaves your eyes uncertain the place to look subsequent.
I don’t assume designer Mark Walters may have discovered any area for an additional sequin or feather. The costumes are gorgeous and work completely with the dazzling choreography. Though it took my eye just a few seconds to take all of it in, Walters’ designs create a world all‑encompassed by the dance ground, with picket floorboards cascading from the heavens; the proper setting for this piece. Fitting alongside this imaginative and prescient, Richard G Jones’ lighting and Rory Madden and Toby Chester’s sound design construct essentially the most vivid and magical dance world.
It is comprehensible why Kevin Clifton and Maisie Smith had been forged in these roles given each of their backgrounds, although it will have been good to see a Spanish or Latina actress play the position of Fran. Smith proves she is not only a display screen actor, creating a beautiful, naïve but feisty character. It is refreshing to listen to a voice that isn’t a typical MT belt, and I’m positive Smith has a future on the stage. As for Clifton, no-one can fault his dancing: it’s clear, although, that he’s a dancer earlier than the rest, together with his performing and singing not shining as brightly as the remainder of the forged. Combined, it’s refreshing to see the romantic leads not being Musical Theatre graduates, although it does depart you questioning if that is partly casting for the superstar names.
The ensemble embrace the craziness of this manufacturing, with wonderful performances from Oliver Brooks, who virtually depicts a Craig Revel Horwood character, and Kieran Cooper, who has the viewers howling together with his comedian timing.
However the stand out efficiency on this present have to be Jose Agudo. The viewers is held so silent throughout his routine you possibly can hear a pin drop. With a protracted and sometimes dragging act one, Agudo storms the stage and grips again the viewers’s consideration at simply the best second. It is a disgrace that the character of his position means he couldn’t shine extra; though then I’m afraid the present might grew to become much less Strictly Ballroom and extra Strictly Fran’s Dad (or Rico as we later be taught his title is).
A particular point out should additionally go to the band, who’re one of many tightest bands I’ve heard performing in London shortly.
Overall that is an pleasing present, offering some escapism from the tough realities we live in. It felt refreshing to see a efficiency that didn’t try to shove a political message down the viewers’s throats and as an alternative allowed them to snicker, cringe and have a superb outdated boogie on the finish! Though removed from an ideal manufacturing, if you wish to have a extremely good evening out, then this present is the one for you.
Book : Baz Luhrmann & Craig Pearce
Original Score & Arrangements : Elliot Wheeler
Directed by: Craig Revel Horwood
Musical Direction by: Dustin Conrad
Choreography by: Craig Revel Horwood & Jason Gilkison
Set & Costume : Mark Walters
Orchestrator & Musical Supervisor: Stuart Morley
Lighting Designer : Richard G. Jones
Sound designer : Rory Madden
Sound co-designer : Toby Chester
Strictly Ballroom performs at New Wimbledon Theatre till 12 November. Further data and bookings could be discovered right here. The present then continues its tour all through 2022, full particulars right here.