Dance 'til Dawn (Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
After wowing audiences across the country with their sizzling Midnight Tango, Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace return to the Mayflower Theatre with a sensational, glitzy new show, straight from the Golden Age of Hollywood.
This is a fabulous production, which transports us back to 1940`s Los Angeles, the moment the curtain rises. Set in the midst of a film shoot, romance develops between beautiful starlet Sadie Strauss (Cacace) and Tony Deluce (Simone) her handsome, on screen lover. When the films leading man is murdered a plot is hatched to frame Tony.
Teddy Kempner – playing the sly, dryly humorous, Philip Marlowe-style private detective Tommy – opens the show, narrating the story, while comic partner Abbie Osmon, as seductive starlet Lana, is a cross between Marilyn Monroe and Jessica Rabbit. This well matched duo has us in stitches of laughter from their first tongue-in-cheek dialogue, and play to comedic perfection.
The scene then is set for this hilarious Dick Tracey style spoof story with Oliver Darley treating us to his stellar vocals, accompanying many of the show dances. His delivery of "Moon River" and "Feeling Good" are sung to stunning effect.
The audience are already cheering and clapping as Cacace and Simone explode onto the stage with a fast and furious charleston, followed by glorious quickstep and jive. One heavenly dance routine leads into another as we are treated to the magic that is this dynamic duo.
As sultry samba follow romantic rumba, the flawless footwork and personal chemistry between them is nothing less than Heavenly! Selecting a favourite part of this incredible show is impossible but the big finale with their Argentinian tango is poignant, moving and absolutely perfect!
The ensemble dance cast are excellent and the superb orchestra deliver stellar 1940s music. Directed and co-choreographed by the excellent Karen Bruce in the spirit of Fred and Ginger, Gene and Cyd et al. It`s an exhilarating fusion of musical theatre and traditional ballroom dance. The abundance of impressive, dazzling, hot dance duets, coupled with world class dancing is utterly spellbinding.
Worth a mention is a stand out performance from Abbie Osman in an amusingly re-worked version of "That`s Life. " Her stunning vocal ability is mesmerising.
Unmissable.
– Vera Newsham
