Broadway brought to life in spirited show

From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Wednesday 29th Jun 2005.

When you get a cast singing rousing revolutionary anthems from Les Miserables dressed in dinner jackets and sequinned dresses, looking like they're at a Rotary club dinner dance, it kind of sets the scene for the whole show.

Spirit of Broadway has evolved from Spirit of the Dance, the popular post-Riverdance showcase of eclectic dance styles with a Celtic undertone.

This new show captures the glamour of Broadway - "the best place on earth, if you're a performer" said our jovial host, a jolly little guy whose smile never left his face, even when he was doing the splits.

A polished cast of dancers and singers paid tribute to big numbers from shows like Chicago, 42nd Street, Grease, Anything Goes and Thoroughly Modern Millie.

It was entertaining in a very mainstream way, but a bit lacking in soul.

There was too much glitter and not enough passion, particularly in the sanitised Cabaret routine, which lacked the raw, raunchy element of Fosse, and Anything Goes which was crying out for some tap.

I know the show is about the glamour of Broadway, but the glittery dresses looked out of place in the Cabaret and Chicago routines, where less is more.

I did enjoy the Chicago routines though, despite the uninspired Catherine Zeta Jones-style delivery of All That Jazz.

The Grease medley was great, with just the right fun tone and Fifties costumes that actually fitted the show, and the Copacabana, Hello Dolly and Rocky Horror Show numbers were impressive too.

I had expected more dance numbers and found my mind wandering during the songs. The singers were all admirable but the delivery was a bit on the cheesy side.

The performances of the singers and dancers was impressive, and if you like your showtunes presented with plenty of gloss, this is the show for you.

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