10 – 15 July
It is an increasingly common phenomenon for successful films to get made into musicals, and it can make good financial and artistic sense. The idea is that the public are already familiar with the storyline and with the addition of a few songs and dance routines it will deliver box office and critical success. But they need something more.
Strictly Ballroom is a case in point, starting out as a short stage play which eventually made its way onto the silver screen in 1992 as Baz Luhrmann’s debut. However, an earlier musical version did not do well and that might have been that. Reviving it by returning to the film’s emotional heart, director and co-choreographer Craig Revel Horwood has put the production back on its feet.
The plot will be familiar to anyone who loves an underdog and roots for the ugly duckling. Strictly Come Dancing’s Kevin Clifton plays the talented but creatively challenging dancer Scott Hastings, who is determined to break out of the strict confines of ballroom dancing in his pursuit of the coveted Pan-Pacific Grand Prix Dancing Championships. This doesn’t sit well with his original dance partner, his domineering mother nor the dance establishment. In their eyes, his ‘flashy, crowd-pleasing steps’ are simply not ballroom.
When he meets the clumsy beginner Fran, they take faltering steps on the way to forming a new dance partnership, but there are obstacles to overcome.
Clifton is of course a superb dancer but more than adequately conveys the dramatic tensions required in the plot, while Faye Brooks as the nascent swan Fran brings all her acting background to the fore. Their partnership is magical.
There is plenty of room for comedy and impressive set pieces while the whole extremely talented ensemble doesn’t put a foot wrong. The choreography routines burn up the dance floor and the twenty strong cast put exhilarating energy into this show. That they now arrive on the last leg of their tour in Bristol after a ten-month stint visiting forty venues is testament to the professionalism on show.
The simple set consists of a framed curved bowl, but intelligent lighting design along with subtle changes of scenery transform the varying moods well. Fran’s Spanish heritage is celebrated with gusto in frenzied flamenco starring snake-hipped Jose Agudo, and closes the first half.
A combination of new songs and established standards including Time After Time and Love Is In The Air fit the mood without dominating or lapsing into a juke box musical.
Placing emotion at the very heart of the production as well as the great casting throughout is what makes this Strictly Ballroom a success.
The show is full of colour, comedy and choreography which left the Hippodrome audience on their feet and shouting for more. So, go on, don’t drag your heels, give it a whirl and dance the night away.
★★★★☆ Bryan Mason, 11 July 2023
