Strictly Gershwin, The Mayflower (From Daily Echo)
When news happens, text SDE and your photos or videos to 80360. Or contact us by email and phone.
Strictly Gershwin, The Mayflower
10:07am Wednesday 19th October 2011 in Stage Reviews
Strictly Gershwin, The Mayflower
IT was all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood’s golden age here in Hampshire – and it was fabulous.
Watched over by the legends of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers on the big screen, the English National Ballet last night paid tribute to the heyday of George and Ira Gershwin.
From top hats to tiaras, crowds were dazzled by everything Strictly Gershwin offered on its spectacular opening night at Southampton’s Mayflower.
With Derek Deane’s choreography and Roberta Guidi di Bagno’s designs, the breathtaking performance takes you on a romantic and nostalgic journey back to witness the magic of the silver screen once more. It simply has it all.
The gorgeous Gershwin music, the singing, ballroom dancing, tap, jazz and of course the elegant ballet is a treat for all the senses.
The twinkling lights lit up the audience’s faces, but it was the enormous cast of 67 dancers dressed head to toe in glistening costumes who twirled their way through classics performed by a 50-piece live jazz orchestra that truly got toes tapping.
The highlights were being completely spellbound by the sparkling performance of Rhapsody in Blue, featuring piano playing at its most beautiful, while Summertime was so graceful I had goosebumps.
But the star for me last night had to be musical supervisor, arranger and conductor Gareth Valentine, whose playful personality thrilled the packed auditorium.
