Michael Flatley’s worldwide smash-hit show Lord of the Dance, which has delighted over 60 million people around the world, comes to Birmingham in a truly spectacular production.
Lord of the Dance - A Lifetime of Standing Ovations is now playing at The Alexandra Theatre.
The phenomenally successful show - featuring a huge swirling array of exuberant dancers and singers - stunned audiences at The Alexandra Theatre with a zesty energy that delighted and brought joy.
It only seems like yesterday when dancer Michael Flatley lit up the world stage with a show called Lord of the Dance in 1996 which has since been performed in 1,000 venues around the globe.
The sensational show, with an incredibly infectious positive energy, continues to pulsate and give pleasure to people after the passing of a quarter of a century.
Director Michael Flatley has streamlined and updated the choreography while composer Gerard Fahy - who wrote the music for the original show - has written new material for the Anniversary Tour.
The show retains the classic story of light - conveyed through the character of Lord of the Dance - overcoming the ominous forces of darkness - led by the Dark Lord - through the magic of music, dance and love.
The show’s key theme is to inspire and uplift the audience through the art of storytelling using music and dance. In times of darkness theatre offers humanity a glimmer of hope and this show is an excellent example of that joyful healing.
The trademark Celtic roots music - rich with Irish folklore and mythology - is used to create an atmospheric and sensual atmosphere in which the troupe of talented dancers weave tales of healing and hope in dark times.
As the narrative unfolds, with the character of the Little Spirit acting as the connecting thread between the various story threads, the tale shifts from darkness and oppression to light and freedom.
The waif-like Little Spirit is mesmerising as she joyfully plays her penny whistle and hops and skips across the stage while leading the audience into the world of the Lord of the Dance.
Despite her size and elfish spirit, she displays strength and resilience. Little Spirit is melodious and infectious, and she hypnotises the audience.
The director and producer of the show Michael Flatley, who performed Lord of the Dance in the original production, passes on the mantle of the role to a new generation of dancers.
Matthew Smith is a magnetic Lord of the Dance. His athleticism and natural charisma, and his tireless dancing - which requires intense concentration and stamina - had the audience erupting with applause at the end of each of his dance routines.
The villainous Dark Lord was played by Zoltan Papp and he immediately gripped the audience when he appeared from the dark depths of his netherworld kingdom.
His movements projected the menace and fire raging inside the heart of the dark character. His used his razor sharp masculine energy to subdue and smother the forces of light and love with aggression and contempt.
Smith and Papp both gave it their all during the epic duel between the Lord of the Dance and the Dark Lord. The stage crackled with dramatic energy as the two men danced and battled in a thrilling dance which left the audience on the edge of their seats.
The soothing feminine energy in the Celtic themed show was highlighted by the ethereal and haunting character of Saoirse.
Saoirse is a beautiful and delicate contrast to the heavy darkness of the Dark Lord and his minions. Saoirse uses stillness and inner calm to restore balance in a world descending into an apocalyptic abyss of darkness.
One of the Dark Lord’s servants, an enchantress named Morrighan, tries to seduce and beguile the Lord of the Dance and lead him towards a nefarious existence. Morrighan is smoky and sultry, her dance is really potent and evocative and filled with such witchcraft that she weaves a spell upon the audience with a lithe and seductive performance which seamlessly merges with the music.
The character of Erin the Goddess adds a gentle equilibrium to the show with songs that sprinkled serenity across the stage.
The fiddle players brought to the calm atmosphere with interludes that propelled the narrative forward and onwards. Each melody flowing from their fiddle strings was in complete step with their incredible dance movements.
These gifted musicians not only played their instruments but also somehow managed to dance while wearing high heels. They produced an immaculate, and miraculous, performance without a single hitch.
The choreography in the show was dazzling and breathtaking, with every single dancer performing in perfect harmony and synchronisation, weaving in and out of lines and circles at breakneck speeds.
It was absolutely astounding, and a testament to the quality of talent on stage, that there was never a moment when a dancer made a mistake or there was a collision or mishap.
The professionalism and dedication on display upon The Alexandra stage in Birmingham was truly awe-inspiring.
The multiple costume changes were a colourful confection of beauty and style which added sparkle and magic to the enchanting tale of love in a dark world.
The outfits worn by both the male and female performers were a blaze of colours and tones, at times sparkling and sizzling, and at others dark and sombre and imbued with Gothic mystique.
Some of the fabrics and materials of the costumes rippled and moved as if alive on the bodies of the dancers. The imaginative designs captured the essence of the central themes of the show.
The art design employs clever back projections to transport the audience to landscapes filled with primordial darkness and paranoia through to hellish infernos where tormented souls rage and writhe. The backdrops contrasted the infernal landscapes with sweeping images of emerald fields speckled with glittering trees that swayed in the wind. Much of the footage will resonate with the current state of the world.
This was a firework of a show, a rainbow of musical delights, fizzing with high energy and thrilling to watch. The exquisite lighting and pyrotechnic effects were impressive and added a brilliant ambiance to the dancing and singing.
The deep blacks and reds generated the heat of hellfire and chaos while the whites and greens brought the balm of coolness and freedom. The costumes, and back projected landscapes, took the audience on a journey where shades and tones took on emotional resonance.
The standing ovations at the climax of the show were well deserved, with people screaming at the top of their voices for an encore which the vast cast of Lord of the Dance graciously delivered.
After the recent rain and stormy weather, and the autumn season rapidly becoming cold and wintry, this show warms the heart and heals the soul with dancing that sets the stage on fire with passion.
Lord of the Dance - A Lifetime of Standing Ovations is a powerhouse of a show that sizzles and dazzles.
Verdict: ★★★★★
Lord of the Dance - A Lifetime of Standing Ovations is now playing at The Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham until Sunday 6th October
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