{"id":33188,"date":"2014-05-29T08:44:33","date_gmt":"2014-05-28T22:44:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lastminute.co.nz\/blog\/?p=33188"},"modified":"2015-03-11T11:51:43","modified_gmt":"2015-03-11T01:51:43","slug":"strictly-ballroom-the-musical","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.co.nz\/vc\/blog\/strictly-ballroom-the-musical\/","title":{"rendered":"Strictly Ballroom: The Musical"},"content":{"rendered":"

It might be the theme song for Channel Nine\u2019s latest reality TV show When Love Comes to Town<\/em> but there\u2019s no doubt in my mind that the John Paul Young classic invokes memories of one love story and one love story only. Yep, Love is in the Air<\/em> is all about Strictly Ballroom.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A favourite of my childhood (what six year-old girl wouldn\u2019t love those costumes?) I was pretty excited to hear Baz Luhrmann was planning to bring his 1992 movie to the stage.<\/p>\n

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It’s showtime!<\/p><\/div>\n

I happily stepped into The Lyric Theatre at The Star<\/a> to experience it for myself, ready for an all singing and all dancing (obviously) night of entertainment.<\/p>\n

As the lights hit the stage and the silhouette of dancers are revealed in all their glittery, sequined costume glory in the first scene of the show, you can tell Baz has upped the wow factor (not surprising really when you compare his relatively modest cinematic debut with the lavishness of his more recent works such as The Great Gatsby<\/em> or Moulin Rouge<\/em>). Any concerns though that Baz would get too flashy are unfounded. The real Australia-ness of this story is still there to be embraced (or occasionally cringed at!).<\/p>\n

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Flashback. Photo by Douglas Kirkland<\/p><\/div>\n

For those not familiar, Strictly Ballroom<\/em> tells the story of Scott Hastings \u2013 a talented young dancer who has grown bored and starts dancing his own steps, a big no-no in the structured world of ballroom dancing. Shunned by the other dancers in his own league, amateur dancer Fran takes up the challenge to be Scott\u2019s partner in secret, learning a lot about each other and themselves along the way.<\/p>\n

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Scott and Fran in action. Photo by Jeff Busby<\/p><\/div>\n

The musical stays true to the much loved film, with most of the dialogue word perfect. Sure you\u2019ve heard it before but there is a lovely familiarity to the lines we know and love being brought to life in the theatre:<\/p>\n

\u201cListen to the rhythm. Don\u2019t be scared.\u201d
\n\u201cPam Short broke both her legs and I want to dance with you.\u201d
\n\u201cYou really are a gutless wonder.\u201d
\n\u201cI have to help Wayne with his logo pogo,\u201d
\n\u201cA live lived in fear, is a life half lived.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

They\u2019re all there and delivered with the additional passion and energy needed on stage. So too the score with movie favourites \u2018Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps\u2019, \u2018Time After Time\u2019 <\/em>and of course, \u2018Love is in the Air\u2019<\/em>, all having their moment in the musical version\u2019s spotlight.<\/p>\n

Catherine Martin\u2019s glittering sequin costumes almost steal the show but stand out performers include Heather Mitchell as Scott\u2019s pushy mother, Robert Grubb as Dance Federation President Barry Fife and newcomer Phoebe Panaretos as Fran.<\/p>\n

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Did someone say sequins? Photo by Jeff Busby<\/p><\/div>\n

And I do have a soft spot for Scott\u2019s Dad Doug played to perfection by Drew Forsythe (that clapping scene gets me every time, not to mention his fancy moves late at night in the dance studio).<\/p>\n

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Time after time<\/p><\/div>\n

It might not tug at the heartstrings as much as the film, but with brilliant chorography, audience participation, a great ensemble and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, Strictly Ballroom: The Musical <\/em>is a fun night out for those who love a bit of nostalgia and a little extra glitter and sequins in their life.<\/p>\n

What movie would you like brought to life on stage? Tell us in the comments. <\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n