Strictly Ballroom at The Bristol Hippodrome
Posted on: 2023-07-11
Our rating:
Vivienne Kennedy reviews Strictly Ballroom, playing at the Bristol Hippodrome until Saturday 15 July
I am a huge fan of all things Strictly… seriously, I am that person who watches every Saturday and Sunday, listens to the podcast, and doesn’t miss an episode of It Takes Two - it is my autumn and winter. So, when a show involves not just one of the (former) dance pros (Kevin Clifton), but also a judge (Craig Revel-Horwood, who is directing), and the head choreographer (Jason Gilkison), of course, I’m going to want to see it!
Sadly, I am a little disappointed.
Based on Baz Luhrmann’s award-winning 1992 film (which I have to confess I haven’t seen, my obsession starting the following decade when Strictly Come Dancing first aired on BBC1), Strictly Ballroom is set in Australia and tells the story of Scott Hastings, a gifted ballroom dancer, played of course by Kevin Clifton, who rebels against the Australian Federation by putting his own twist on their traditions. Having lost a championship and a partner, he teams up with Fran, a dance novice, and together they prove winning steps don’t have to be ‘strictly ballroom’.
The choreography is great, especially the ensemble numbers at the end of each act. Kevin Clifton and Faye Brooks are perfectly cast as Scott and Fran, their blossoming friendship and romance really rather sweet. And I particularly enjoy watching Jose Agudo and Karen Mann, playing Fran’s Spanish father and grandmother; Mann’s rendition of Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps, in Spanish, is a highlight, as is Agudo’s paso doble masterclass.
For me, it’s the storytelling that lets it down. The pacing feels off and I don’t know if there is something not quite right happening at the sound desk but it’s often impossible to make out what is being said or sung. It’s not a strong storyline, there are no real plot twists and a lack of ‘will they, won’t they’ moments, and the difficulty in following what’s being said makes it weaker still. I have to say, I was a little bored in places.
As for the music, I enjoy the medley of 90s classics playing before curtain up, and the songs resurrected from the film soundtrack including Cyndi Lauper’s 'Time After Time' and John Paul Young’s 'Love is in the Air'. But, the numbers written specifically for this stage musical just don’t do it for me, and they form the majority of the score.
So, all in all, a mixed bag, and just three stars from me.
For further information and to book online, visit The Bristol Hippodrome website.
All images: Ellie Kurttz
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Vivienne Kennedy says she lives and works in Bristol but sleeps in Weston-super-Mare, which is where she’s actually lived pretty much all her life. During the day, she is Head of Broadmead BID (Business Improvement District), supporting retailers in Bristol Shopping Quarter. Away from work, she’s been reviewing theatre, music and art in Bristol for more than 12 years and is rarely happier than when watching a good show at the Hippodrome or Old Vic.
