Review: ALJAZ AND JANETTE: A NIGHT TO REMEMBER, Symphony Hall - Tour
Not only is Strictly Come Dancing a fixture in our TV calendars from September-December each year, but the TV dance show pro’s are now a regular fixture in venues across the UK the rest of the year, much to the delight of its fans. This month, the incredibly popular Aljaž Škorjanec and Janette Manrara return with their latest tour, A Night to Remember, which is very true to its name.
Aljaž made his return to Strictly Come Dancing last year after taking some time off to enjoy being a new Dad, whilst former pro Janette is currently performing as Roxie Hart in the UK tour of Chicago and alternates presenting Strictly’s It Takes Two alongside Fleur East. They ar both supremely talented in their own right but together are a force to be reckoned with.
Directed and choreographed by Gareth Walker with Aljaž and Janette, a wide range of dance styles are performed, alongside four ridiculously energetic and enthusiastic young dancers (Kiera Brunton, Natasha Mould, Tonye Scott-Obene and Nick Godfrey), to a fusion of music styles, delivered by a six-strong band. No person on that stage is there as ‘padding’; every person is given the opportunity to shine equally as bright as our leading duo, which is refreshing and a testament to the show’s creators.
As a married couple who have been together for 12 years, you would expect there to be visible chemistry between Aljaž and Janette, and their passion for dance (and one another) radiates right to the back of the balcony. When dancing, they sizzle with electricity, but first and foremost, you can tell they are the best of friends. Whilst very occasionally a little self indulgent when talking, they come across as warm, relatable and humble, which is a large reason for their undeniable popularity. The ‘Love in Melody’ section showcasing their relationship could have been sickly sweet but they create a beautiful moment to an acoustic version of Tina Turner’s ‘Simply The Best’, performed by the mindblowingly brilliant vocalist Jill Marie Cooper and incomparable Tom Seals on piano and vocals (who both deserve their own shows with their talent!)
Cooper’s vocal range is off the scale and she commands the stage like the divas she is performing the songs of, donned in exceptional costumes styled by Carol Howard. Seals is also given some great solo stage time and he too has the audience in the palm of his hand, and in awe of his talent, especially during the Billy Joel section in Act Two.
Doug Cairns designs a simple, static set framing the musicians and providing a focal point for the performers upstage centre, with practical lights built into the structure. The lighting design, also by Cairns, is fitting for the varying musical tempos and further enhances the energy onstage.
Having seen a number of ‘Strictly Pro’ shows to date, this is most definitely the best one so far. A gorgeous evening with a sensational cast in an idyllic setting.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Jenny Ell
Aljaz and Janette: A Night to Remember tours until 8 June, with further info here.
