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What a feeling! Flashdance - Royal Concert Hall - review
ENERGETIC, fast-paced and feisty, the Cinderella tale of Flashdance – The Musical exploded on the Royal Concert Hall stage this week in Nottingham.
If the story is straightforward – Alex (Victoria Hamilton-Barritt), a steelworker by day and exotic dancer by night in Pittsburgh, dreams of joining the prestigious Shipley Dance Academy – the content is packed with pretty well everything that life can throw at you.
Alex faces a struggle against the economic background of the 1980s – no change there then – and, underneath all the attitude, fears the dance academy is a dream too far for a teenager of her background.
Her mother, heavy-smoking Hannah (Bernie Nolan) faces moments of frustration when dealing with a headstrong, 18-year-old daughter, but is determined to help her realise her dream.
There are some beautifully worked mum and daughter moments, including a couple of duets and former Coro star Bruno Langley, as the delinquent no-good Jimmy Kaminsky, also excels.
And there is a lovely performance from Ruthie Stephens as Gloria, both in song (The Long Way Home) and dance, a best-friend rescued from a life of pending sleaze.
Toss in the closure of Hurley's Steel Mill as the work goes overseas, armed robbery, murder, drugs and a bit of sex and you have a pretty accurate idea of Alex's background
But love finds a way and, by the time the iconic What a Feeling signifies the climax, it is evident all will be well.
A strong cast makes the most of the choreography by Arlene Phillips but the show really belongs to the leggy, dark-haired Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, who is outstanding – strong voice, superb moves and excellent rapport with the collection of steelworkers, dancers and dodgy characters who inhabit her world.
Flashdance is at the Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham until January 24, Monday-Thursday 7.30pm, Friday 5.30pm and 8.30pm, Saturday 2.30pm and 7.30pm.
John Shawcroft
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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