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A review from 5D Music & Theatre writer Maria Robertson.
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Directed by Craig Revel Horwood of Strictly Come Dancing fame, this musical is based on the award winning film by Baz Luhrmann. Craig is also one of the choreographers, working on this aspect with Jason Gilkison, who is the Creative Director of the Strictly TV show.
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The story follows a young dancer who loses his dance partner as she objects to his addition of his own dance steps in the ballroom dance competitions they are dedicated to. As a big competition looms just weeks away a beginner dancer approaches him wanting to dance together. Although he is dismissive at first she gains his attention by demonstrating some of her own non regimented moves and they start practising together. Fran does not tell Kevin about her fabulous Flamenco dancing father but he soon fines out and combines the Spanish moves into their dances.
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This production has it all: the dancing, the costumes, the sparkle and the romance. Many of us would love to be able to dance with gorgeous grace and style and it is breath taking to watch the professionals do it so well. My own dancing skills certainly do not come close to that of Kevin Clifton, the Strictly Come Dancing professional, who has the lead role of Scott Hastings. From the first scene, when he merely throws an arm in the air, to the last bow you are mesmerized by his performance and just cannot take your eyes off him. Although my eyes did struggle with this performance as there were so many amazing dancers on stage, quite often at one time, as there were the ballroom competitions and their practices.
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It is impossible to watch everyone at the same time, you almost want to stop time and let each individual couple have their five minutes so that you can concentrate completely on them. Even the minor characters were still fantastic dancers, you literally could not take it all in. This did pull you into the atmosphere of the ballroom dance competitions where there are hundreds of dancers whirling around the room and you try and watch each individual couple to see their individual moves. Some of the dancers did get a solo moment and they all did fantastically well, they could even sing beautifully.
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Jose Agudo, who play’s Fran’s protective father Rico, certainly needs a special mention – mostly for leaving my cousin and I drooling with dropped jaws at the interval. When he introduces Scott to his speciality of flamenco dancing it is just a show stopping scene: the moves, the passion, the intensity, the sparkle and the noise of the rhythm beating throughout.
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Strictly Ballroom, the Musical is on at HMT all week, so make sure you do not miss it. These dazzling dancers fully deserve the standing ovation we gave them.
Further information: https://www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/whats-on/strictly-ballroom-2021strictly-ballroom-musical-2023/
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Maria Robertson is the Chief Music & Theatre Writer for the 5D Pop Culture Website and provides reviews & coverage of local Aberdeen music & theatre gigs. She’s an experienced writer for numerous sources and is a self-confessed live gig addict ever since seeing The Counting Crows at the Barrowlands in 1994.
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