Image by James Morgan.
The stage version of the classic Australian movie, Strictly Ballroom, has the audience dancing in the aisles at the end… almost. It is executed in a pantomime, cartoonish sort of way which works quite well…. mostly. The storyline is very similar to the movie and its three main hits, ‘Perhaps’; ‘Time after Time’ and ‘Love is in the Air’ are all included. Some extra songs work well and the cast is magnificent, especially Thomas Lacey as Scott and Phoebe Panaretos as Fran.
As the audience enter the theatre, with MC/DJ JJ Silvers (Mark Owen-Taylor) on stage, we are divided into various colours that represent the dance studios that compete in the championships. The walls are covered in retro posters. There is audience participation in both halves of the performance that this reviewer enjoyed. And the costumes are bright, bold and wonderful. The spangles! The glamour! The ruffles and frills! The feathers! The beading! The incredible eye makeup and hair!
When the opening scene segues to the competition waltz with the ‘Blue Danube’, Strictly Ballroom is at its finest. But, like Moulin Rouge, this performance is far too busy, with masses of scenery sliding in and out and the cast frantically appearing briefly only to disappear. The iconic ‘Time After Time’ scene, complete with clothes-line and Coke sign, loses its impact as we see Doug Hastings dancing alone downstairs. And this reviewer questions the decision to include ‘Habanera’ from Bizet’s Carmen in ‘A Life Lived In Fear’.
John O’Connell’s choreography is brilliant, combining display Federation steps, showbiz musicals and Flamenco. Some of the rhythms and counts, especially in the Act 1 finale, ‘A Life Lived In Fear’, are extremely complicated. Are we meant to pick up allusions to Doctor Zhivago with its folk dance in ‘Dance to Win’ and to Les Miserables in ‘New Steps Nightmare’ in Act 2?
Thomas Lacey as Scott brilliantly inhabits the questioning young champion, but he is not really given the chance to show the deep heart of the rebellious dancer within. He seeks to be original and asks, for example, what does fellow competitor Wayne Burns (Jarryd Byrne) think of the steps? Should Scott stick to the Federation rules and win the Pan Pacific? Or, like his father Doug (Drew Forsthe) does he take the path least followed and face failure? Scott has a wonderful mirror dance sequence using Diane Warren’s ‘Shooting Star’ that could stop the show but just falls short.
Fran is superbly played by Phoebe Panaretos. We see her change from ditzy, clumsy bespectacled amateur to proud, confident, sizzling Flamenco dancer in a striking red outfit. She sings superbly too! Scott and Fran have a magical duet ‘Beautiful Surprise’ that is a highlight of the evening.
The whole ensemble is terrific. Special mention goes to Scott’s mother Shirley Hastings (Heather Mitchell) as the stressed but proud parent driven to distraction and hiding long lost family secrets. Scott’s father Doug – with his annoying habit of puffing on a breath freshener – has a whale of a time particularly in Act 2 with ‘Crazy Doug’ when Barry Fife is telling Scott what happened in 1967-68.
Fran’s father, Rico, (Fernando Mira) is at first dangerous and threatening then enthusiastically helps Scott and Fran prepare for the Pan Pacific. When teaching Scott the Flamenco steps he is elegant, noble, proud and fiery. A huge production number, ’A life Lived In Fear’, the Act 1 finale, almost ignites at times. And Fran’s grandmother, Abuela, (Natalie Gamsu) is tremendous.
The dominating President of the Federation, vile Barry Fife, is excellently played by Robert Grubb. Les Kendall, Shirley’s ex -dancing partner and Doug’s friend, is brilliantly brought to life by Bob Baines.
This is a very slick production that could do with a little tweaking and editing. At times, the musical isn’t given the chance to develop and reveal character truths, it refuses to let us get too close and involved and jumps between several songs too quickly. Sadly, there is superficial glamour and sparkle only.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Strictly Ballroom
Director / Book Co-Writer: Baz Luhrmann
Set & Costume Designer: Catherine Martin
Choreographer: John ‘Cha Cha’ O’Connell
Book Co-Writer: Craig Pearce
Sound Designer: Peter Grubb
Lighting Designer: Hugh Vanstone
Musical Supervisor: Max Lambert
Original Score & Arrangements: Elliott Wheeler
Cast includes: Thomas Lacey, Phoebe Panateros, Bob Baines, Drew Forsythe, Natalie Gansu, Robert Grubb, Fernando Mira, Heather Mitchell, Mark Owen-Taylor
Lyric Theatre, Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont
www.strictlyballroomthemusical.com
15 – 27 April
