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

Flavia Cacace: Last Tango a show for everyone to enjoy

Image Source: Burton Mail

Written By: Mark Armstrong

With more than 20 years of professional dancing experience, Flavia Cacace and Vincent Simone have become one of the most notable dancing couples, having starred in several theatre shows and Strictly Come Dancing for seven years beforehand. And their latest show Last Tango is about to foxtrot its way into the Liverpool Empire Theatre. To learn more about the show and their careers, we recently spoke to Flavia Cacace, who promises an eye-catching and emotional performance for the Liverpool audience.

Tell us about the Last Tango tour.

We're on the road at the moment, we're touring the UK, and Last Tango is our first big production. It's quite an emotional show, and all of our shows have a story to follow, so we take you on a journey with us. It’s the story of a man called George, who acts almost as an older Vincent (Simone). So basically we take you through his life, from the very first time he met his partner to all the things that happen in his life, all the way to the very end. There are ups and downs that I think people will relate to.

We've got a cast of eight other musical theatre dancers and singers who are amazing, and we have a main voice in Teddy Kempner who tells George’s story; he's been in all three of our productions. We also have an eight-piece orchestra who are incredible. And there are lots of different styles of dancing; we go from jive to foxtrot to Argentine tango, the salsa, the flamenco … there's a little bit of everything in there as well. So, there's a lot to see, accompanied by some fabulous music.

When did you and Vincent first begin dancing together?

We've danced together now for around 21 years, so it’s been a long time! We were 16 and 17 years old when we partnered up to compete.

When did you both first achieve fame for your dancing?

Well, we were very well-known in what we call the ballroom world. We started competing at a very young age, as we felt we could do very well, so we were already a bit well-known and we were very successful in our own right. Then once we got into television, obviously that’s when we became much more well-known in people's homes. Later on, a lot of other opportunities came along, and now we're touring the UK with our own show.

How were you discovered for Strictly Come Dancing?

We were studying the Argentine tango at a studio in Kensington (in London). The studio had a call from the BBC, who were producing Dance Fever at the time (Graham Norton was the presenter). They were looking for a tango couple to perform with one of the live music acts, so the people that spoke to them put our names forward and we met up with the BBC. We sent them a tape of us dancing, and in the end, we did several performances for Dance Fever over the course of four years with various different music acts.

And then one year, the last year that we did Dance Fever, the BBC producer came to us (she had recently become their new producer), and she told us that she was producing Strictly Come Dancing that year and asked us whether we would like to take part. We'd achieved pretty much everything that we'd wanted to in the world of competitive dancing, so we were ready to move on, and so that's how we got involved in Strictly.

Did you both enjoy Strictly during your time on the show (2006-2012)?

It was an amazing experience. It’s a fantastic show which is watched by millions, and we were very lucky and privileged to be a part of it, and to have been there when it was growing and becoming bigger and more popular. We have lots of great memories from those seven years on Strictly.

What has been your favourite routine to perform together?

Oh, gosh! It would be absolutely impossible to pick. We're often asked what our favourite dance is, and what routine is our favourite. We've been so lucky to be able to dance to so many amazing songs. When we were younger, we had a wish list of songs that we used to listen to, so for example we would practice choreographing to them. And now obviously with our shows, and the performances that we've done, we've been able to make that a reality. So, there are so many different numbers that we love in the show and in the past shows that it would be impossible to pick.

I think our favourite dance, or at least mine, is the Argentine tango. I love the tango music. Obviously, I love them all as I've done them for many, many years, but I think the tango has a special place for me.

What should the audience expect from Last Tango?

It's an emotional show, so come prepared! We've had many people who were a bit teary-eyed at the end of the show and during the show. It’s not just a show for dance fanatics, because there’s the main story to follow, we've got a beautiful set designed by Morgan Large who designed all of our other sets as well (for Dance ‘Til Dawn and Midnight Tango), and we've got amazing music (and it's a real variety of music). So, there's something for everybody; you don't have to be a pure dance fanatic to come and enjoy the show. And obviously we're in it; we've got an amazing cast, and we're thrilled at the fantastic response we're having on tour. We're really happy that people have enjoyed all three of our shows, because that's why we do them. So, we hope to see lots of people in Liverpool, as it's a great city and we're looking forward to coming again.

Last Tango plays the Liverpool Empire Theatre from Monday April 4 to Wednesday April 6. To book your tickets, click here.

For more information about Last Tango, visit www.thelasttangotour.co.uk.

Final ever tour for The Last Tango

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

Britain’s best-loved dance duo to perform together in theatres for the last time

Fresh from their sell-out hit shows Midnight Tango and Dance ’Til Dawn, Strictly superstars Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace have created their most moving production yet as the pair prepare to dance in their final ever theatre show. The Last Tango opens in September 2015 ahead of a 33 week theatre tour, which visits the Liverpool Empire from Monday April 4-Wednesday April 6 2016.

Twenty years of dancing together has seen them become Strictly Come Dancing favourites, World Argentine Tango Champions, and create and star in their own Olivier Award nominated West End productions – but now, as the nation’s favourite dancers prepare to take on new projects, it is time for Vincent and Flavia to say goodbye to audiences across the UK in a brand new, thrilling live performance.

Flavia said: “We have had such a fantastic time creating and dancing in Midnight Tango and Dance ’Til Dawn. It’s an incredible experience to perform live in front of our wonderful audience night after night, but all good things must come to an end, so we’re creating our final ever theatre show. It’s going to be intimate, intense and full of our award-winning Argentine tango. The Last Tango is going to showcase our best work and most beautiful dance moves before we finally say farewell to theatre.”

Vincent added: “The last few years have been amazing – we’ve loved it. It may be our final theatre tour but we’re going to go out with a bang! This is going to be our best show yet!"

Don’t miss your last ever chance to see this dynamic duo do what they do best live, in an intimate, passionate and explosive experience. It’s time for The Last Tango.

The Last Tango is directed by Olivier Award winning choreographer and director Karen Bruce and produced by Adam Spiegel Productions (The Producers, Dance ‘Til Dawn, Midnight Tango, Love Me Tender).

For further information about The Last Tango, visit www.thelasttangotour.co.uk.