Lord Of The Dance - Dangerous Games

Image Source: Liverpool
Empire Theatre

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Format: Dance
Genre: Dance
Date: January 9 2017
Location: Liverpool Empire Theatre

Around twenty years or so ago, a new craze swept the theatre community. It was dance, or rather a form of dance that had never been seen on a mainstream scale before. It was presented by Michael Flatley, with his extremely quick and complex tap-dancing show Lord Of The Dance quickly becoming a massive success in the UK and beyond, reaching all corners of the world from America to Japan to Australia. Needless to say, it built up quite a reputation, as well as a very strong following.

And now, after providing several variants of the original show, Flatley presents his latest production, Lord Of The Dance - Dangerous Games. (Well, it was actually launched a while ago, but last night marked the new show's first bow in Liverpool, so the statement still rings true!)

For those unfamiliar, Flatley's shows tell a simple story entirely through dance. No dialogue, not even any on-screen speech to explain the plot; even music is only occasionally used, as I will explain. It is the dance routines themselves that comprise the content of the show, with even the actions that move the story along being handled through - yes! - dance.

The story of this show is a simple one, as the title Dangerous Games refers to a battle between Good and Evil, or more rather the Lord Of The Dance (James Keegan) and his team, inspired by the dreams of the Little Spirit (Jess Judge), against the evil presence of The Dark Lord (Zoltan Papp) and his band of Dark Disciples. There is also a secondary strand of a romance of sorts between the Lord and Saoirse (Erin Kate McIlravey), which is put at risk by one of the Dark Lord's assistants, Morrighan The Seductress (Andrea Kren). Only by watching the show, and the messages conveyed by the dances, will we know for sure if there will be a happy ending on all fronts, or if the Dark Lord and his merry men will achieve their evil goal, much to the chagrin and horror of the Little Spirit.

From an entertainment standpoint, the show will work mostly if the dance performances are of a high standard; fortunately, as one would expect, they are. The tap-dancing routines are exquisite and one can only imagine the training and hard work that has gone into ensuring that every routine flows with the story and is performed without a hitch, and to a very high level of quality. It is a testament to the performers, led by the very talented James Keegan as the Lord Of The Dance, that a show which relies solely on dance can not only tell such a story, but is very entertaining and thought-provoking at the same time. There are also musical interludes, with the Little Spirit performing a flute version of the show's title theme, and some occasional vocal musical performances to break things up between the dances.

To me, though, the standout aspect of the show was the outstanding production. The background consisted solely of steps and screens, but the images shown on the screens were out of this world (literally, in fact). I don't want to spoil the show for anyone who hasn't seen it, but the visuals are extremely detailed and lifelike, boasting a huge amount of depth and colour to rival any Sony Bravia television advertisement, and they alone bring you right into a particular setting no questions asked, which is quite an achievement when you think about it. Add to that the odd use of pyrotechnics and some intriguing opening and closing scenes on the big screen starring Flatley himself, and from a production standpoint, the show is well worth seeing. It actually threatens to make the dancing secondary, which may not be intended but is a sign of just how good the backdrops are.

I am not sure if the show will necessarily be for everyone, as younger attendees may find the Dark Lord and his assistants to be a little too frightening, and of course, dance shows will only appeal to so many theatregoers, meaning that although the show is of as high a standard as one could expect, it still won't be to everyone's tastes. Nevertheless, it is the sort of show that could easily convert a non-supporter into a fan, which again illustrates the high level of performances and production on offer here.

So, If you're a dance enthusiast, or if you're familiar with the work of Michael Flatley, then Lord Of The Dance - Dangerous Games will be a real treat for you. If you aren't so keen on dance, you may find it harder to stay engaged with the show, but the combination of stunning backdrops and eye-catching routines will probably ensure that you still have an enjoyable time.

Overall Rating: 8/10 - Very Good

The Last Tango

Image Source: The Last Tango

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Format: Musical
Genre: Dance
Date: April 4 2016
Location: Liverpool Empire Theatre

The Last Tango is a story of one dancing couple's evolution, from when they initially met as dance partners to their budding relationship to life as a married couple and as parents of two children. If you are a fan of Strictly Come Dancing, then you will recognise Flavia Cacace and Vincent Simone, who have been in the world of professional dance for many years but achieved national fame on the BBC show for many years.

And this provides a showcase for Flavia and Vincent to tell their own story through the use of their most recognisable dance routines, their favourite songs to dance along to, and to in essence enlighten the audience on how there is a lot more to a dance show than just the moves and the music.

Indeed, this tells a story almost entirely through dance and song, with occasional interludes from an older version of the male dancer (Teddy Kempner) who finds various items in his attic and wardrobe which remind him of his relationship. There are different elements utilised to explain this, from light comedy to situations linking to the context of the era (e.g. when he is called up to battle in a war) to genuine emotion. Although we the audience are not told what has happened, it's clear in the final scenes that the long-standing bond of true love between the couple has been broken under tragic circumstances.

There are many back-up dancers in this production, but Flavia and Vincent are unquestionably the stars of the show. It's hard to pick out one specific dance routine, as their performances provide less flash but more substance and meaning, and because almost every single dance is visually a work of art. That being said, one cannot forget the final, extravagant dance routine which earned Flavia and Vincent a well-deserved from the Liverpool Empire audience.

The setting is a basic yet realistic-looking house (or at least the upper rooms of the home), whilst props and costumes provide the additional support when bringing into a specific situation from their lives. The singers are very good; like with the dances, it's hard to pick one particular stand-out moment, but when they take you back in time with such songs as Beyond The Sea and Magic Moments, and they are performed with a style that is unique yet true to the original artists, you can definitely recognise the talent these singers have and their range of vocal skills that are on display.

The acting skills of Teddy only occasionally come into play, as his scenes are largely interludes between the dance routines, but he does a good job of having the audience warm to him, making them laugh with subtle references, and also having them understand his pain in the closing moments. It is at the end, ironically with no words spoken, that his acting skills really come to the forefront. With a larger role, Teddy could have been the most memorable performer on the night.

A slight downside for me concerned the running time, as it began a little late and lasted less than two hours (with an interval included). I suppose for a show like this that it is important for the story not to last too long, especially since the verbal scenes are limited outside of the songs themselves, but I felt that it could have lasted a little bit longer, as the ending almost felt slightly abrupt. A couple more routines would have fleshed out the show more, and it would only have been of benefit to the production as opposed to stretching out the plot.

As Flavia noted in a recent interview that I conducted with her (which you can read here), you don't have to be a dance enthusiast to enjoy this show. That being said, if you a true dance aficionado and/or if you are a fan of Flavia and Vincent from their days on Strictly, then you are far more likely to come to this show knowing that you will have a really good time, and that you will come away with an even greater appreciation for the art of dance and for the talents of Flavia and Vincent. The older generation will likely appreciate the more classic numbers that are used for the production as well. Whether you enjoy theatre, dance, vintage music or you just want a good night of entertainment, The Last Tango is a very enjoyable show and one that I would recommend that you go and see.

Overall Rating: 8/10 - Very Good

Dirty Dancing

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Format: Stage Show
Genre: Romantic Drama
Date: April 9 2015
Location: Liverpool Empire Theatre, Liverpool, England

There's an expression that something can be summed up in a few words. In the world of show business, sometimes it's a song or an image that can be used to perfectly encapsulate such a feeling. And in the case of Dirty Dancing, it is a song and an image which summarises the movie: I've Had The Time Of My Life by Bill Withers and Jennifer Warnes is the song, and the image is of the character of Johnny Castle lifting Baby Houseman into the air. They are the two things which immediately come to mind when you think of this film. But in the theatre, whilst the aforementioned song and the famous closing dance are the stand-out moments, the stage show adaptation of Dirty Dancing has a lot more to offer.

Set in New York's Catskill Mountains in the summer of 1963, Dirty Dancing tells the story of 17-year-old Frances "Baby" Houseman, who is on holiday with her older sister and her parents. There are a bunch of resort activities on offer, but for Baby, there is greater interest to be found in the night-time activities, most notably the all-night dance party that she stumbles upon. It is there, whilst helping Billy Kostecki to carry watermelons, that she meets his cousin Johnny Castle, the main dance instructor, and slowly their relationship begins.

As Baby gradually develops a crush on Johnny, trouble is on the horizon for Castle on a professional front when he learns that his regular dance partner Penny Johnson is pregnant and therefore cannot participate in an upcoming production. Despite its importance, Johnny has no choice but to use Baby in the role, who only has very limited dancing experience. But having used her father's money to pay for an illegal abortion for Penny (with the reason unbeknownst to her dad), it is partly as a favour in return that Baby is given the opportunity. He tries to teach her and whilst she does pick up some moves, others are a struggle. On the night, their routine goes well, but for a brief moment she loses confidence and therefore the lift, the highlight of their performance, is not successfully performed.

We soon discover that Penny's abortion had complications and that only Baby's father can resolve the situation. He does so, but not before misinterpreting a comment by Johnny to meaning that he was the father, so he tells Baby to stay away from Johnny. Instead, they get closer and become a couple, but their relationship remains under secrecy, until a robbery at the resort and false accusations towards Castle leaves Baby with no choice but to reveal the truth about her and Johnny. Whilst his name is cleared of theft, the nature of their relationship still sees him lose his job, and with Baby's holiday drawing to a close, it also seems that her romance with Johnny had been brought to an end, too ... or has it? The final scene explains all, but needless to say, one character ensures that "Nobody puts Baby in a corner".

As the title might suggest, this show features a lot of dancing, the vast majority being extremely advanced and brilliantly executed choreography from a supremely talented crew of dancers. Johnny Castle is the instructor and so his routines have the most attention, but the best dancer of the crew was Penny, played here by Claire Rogers. Rogers puts forth a brilliant effort and steals the show from a dancing standpoint.

In fact, the majority of this show consists of dancing. There is dialogue between characters, but this is largely limited in the first half. There are also musical numbers performed live, as well as some classic tunes being played in the background whilst the dancing is performed centre-stage. This is worth noting because, if you are not a particularly big fan of dance routines, then this may not be your cup of tea, as dance is such a major part of this production. Of course, the name Dirty Dancing should provide a hint of this, so chances are that most spectators should not find this to be a problem.

Roseanna Frascona puts in a strong performance as Baby, but Lewis Kirk pulling off the role of Johnny Castle to a high standard for the key dance scenes is particularly impressive when you consider that he is actually substituting on the Liverpool leg of this tour for Gareth Bailey, who recently suffered an ankle injury. Also of note are the use of humour in certain dance routines and musical performances, and the effortless manner in which the stage can be transformed into so many locations, from a dancehall to a field to a river. This is achieved in large part by the stunning scenery effects, the range of which include the curtain screen showing a heavy rainstorm, the use of a toppling tree in the forest, and the disco-balls which light up during the final scene. When it comes to turning a theatre stage into the set of a major motion picture, Dirty Dancing is very successful.

On the downside, I found the main storyline a little hard to follow, even as it edged towards the climax. You can see what is happening, but you are not sure where it is heading. Those unfamiliar with the movie would assume that the plotline was leading up to the initial performance with Johnny and Baby as opposed to the developments which come later on. There were also some minor audio issues near the beginning which made it difficult to hear what some characters were saying. And whilst the show is faithful to the movie, it is worth noting that the second half is a lot better than the first half, so the lead storyline may develop a little too slowly for some.

Overall, I found Dirty Dancing to be a very good show. The dancing is simply spectacular, and the scenery and special effects are of a high calibre. The performers suit their roles, and as stated Rogers is someone whose performance leaves a lasting impression. I had a good time, and for diehard fans of Dirty Dancing, there should be enough entertainment to give them a lift and ensure that they have the time of their lives.

Overall Rating: 8/10 - Very Good