From the Creators of Spirit of the Dance

Strictly Tap Dance Fever

Let me start by saying this is not strictly tap dance. Whilst it has its core in tap it draws upon many other styles of dance, sometimes bringing tap into them, sometimes not. It covers a range of musical styles including jazz, swing, jive, rock, electro-beat and of course music from the shows.

The dancers were; Lee Meadows, Luke Redford, Jay Hardy, Ross Logan, Oliver Botterill, Gareth Evans, Dan Cooke, for the boys and Rebekah Knight, Helen Stainsby, Debbie Paul, Lucy-Alexa Gilbert, Erin Rogers, Eilidh Heather Ross and Emma Nightingale for the girls. The singers were Lara Denning and Scott Garnham, who danced but didn’t tap. These performers are clearly very talented and Emma Rogers’ choreography was excellent.

The show includes highlights from 42^nd Street, Singing in the Rain, A Chorus Line, Tap Dogs and Stomp. I loved  Scott Garnham’s rendition of Cab Calloway’s 1931 classic Minnie the Moocher, (which also features in The Blues Brothers) and the tribute to Bill Robinson, Mr Bojangles. Lara did an excellent version of Fever and I think they meshed very well for the duets.

The set consisted of two metal staircases placed at 45 degrees, with a bridge between them (with access to this bridge from the wings). Set against a background of midnight blue pierced with tiny star like lights whose colour could be changed to produce the relevant ambience. The props included an island bar and a couple of Italian bistro tables with chairs.

There were several changes of costume from outfits reminiscent of forties bathing belles in shorts and cropped tops through risqué burlesque outfits and sequined show numbers, to modern post apocalyptic grunge. Scott and Lara had even more outfits to support their songs.

This is a high energy show with an uplifting feel good factor. Part of this is because the cast are clearly enjoying themselves, whilst the dancing is obviously tiring there are very few points where they are not smiling and many where they are positively grinning. I would recommend this show to anyone who would like to leave the theatre feeling better than when they went in.  

Strictly Tap Dance Fever plays Milton Keynes Theatre from Tuesday 4^th May to Saturday 8^th May 2010. Milton Keynes Theatre Box Office 0844 871 7652 (bkg fee).

The tour then continues playing Congress Theatre Eastbourne from Monday 10^th May to Tuesday 11^th May and The Opera House Buxton from 12^th May to 13^th May 2010.

www.miltonkeynestheatre.com www.strictlytapdancefever.com

Reviewed by Sue Marks at Milton Keynes Theatre on Tuesday 4^th May 2010.