Strictly Ballroom - Strictly Wonderful

If I had to choose one word to describe Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom the Musical it would be joyous.

Arriving at the Piccadilly Theatre at the end of the warmest April day in over fifty years, the audience were ready to have a good night and the show delivered.

Will Young starts the proceedings coming onto the stage as MC Wally Strand and telling us (in his surprisingly good Australian accent) how Scott Hastings is going to change the world of ballroom dancing.  From that moment I was hooked. Moving the story along, talking to the audience with a ready quip, Will plays the role as though he was born it. 

Centred around the Amateur Australian Federation Cup all eyes are on the dancers desperate to win it,  but Scott Hastings is a rebel, who won't stick to the rules.  When he partners beginner Fran, the sparks fly and the dancing is hot!  Jonny Labey and Ziz Strallen have a real chemistry on the stage, and when they dance together it is breathtaking.  My favourite dance was one where they don't actually touch.  Hands and arms centimetres apart there is an intensity and passion through the moves.

I loved Fran's Abuela (Eve Polycarpou) and the flamenco dancing from her father (Fernando Mira) is stunning.  There is comedy throughout, glitzy ballroom costumes, with great vocals from Will Young and an energy that is palpable from the whole cast. 

For me, the best shows are the ones where the time disappears as you are part of a the magical world of whichever show you are seeing.  Strictly Ballroom was one of those shows.  It has a real feel good factor that we probably all need at the moment.  I would recommend anyone to escape to Australia and the world that is Strictly Ballroom.

Review of Teddy

Although the Vault has to be the smallest theatre I have ever been to, this is in direct contrast to the large,vibrant show that is Teddy.

Set in 1956 it begins with the story of teenagers Josie and Teddy played by the brilliant Molly Chesworth and George Parker as they are getting ready for their Saturday night out with their friends.  We follow them as they meet and try to work out how they are going to be able to afford tickets to see their musical hero Johnny Valentine (Dylan Wood).

The cast is as tiny as the theatre.   Molly and George are the only actors on stage telling their story in an almost Shakespearian way, with a rhyming, poetic language that doesn't hold back.  Through the eyes of Josie and Teddy we see the people they meet, both friend and foe, and there is a strength and depth to both their performances.

Alongside their story is the music.  Johnny Valentine and the Broken Hearts play hits from the fifties alongside new music for the show.  The band members (Andrew Gallon, Freya Parks and Harrison White) are all talented musicians and the music brings the fifties to life.  

Without any spoilers I loved the ending, but I didn't have a chance to think too much as the band were playing again, but just as a final gig for the audience.   Everyone was invited onto the stage to dance, and one of the audience members even managed to get to the mike to sing!  

A great show, done a little bit differently, with a really good cast.  I would definitely recommend seeing Teddy.