Review: THE RETURN OF THE LEGENDS, Birmingham Symphony Hall - Tour
Photo credit: Terry Blackburn
Besties, Happy Strictly season to those who celebrate! Brightening up our living rooms on these chilly autumn Saturday evenings, Strictly Come Dancing has become a worldwide success and firm household favourite since 2004, often elevating the careers of the celebrities who take part, but even more so for the world class professional Ballroom and Latin dancers who partner them.
Five of the male professionals from the show embark on their biggest tour yet with The Return of the Legends. Brendan Cole, James Jordan, Pasha Kovalev, Vincent Simone and Ian Waite - who have two glitter balls and 45 Strictly seasons under their belts - come together as a powerful collective to show us why we all fell in love with them on the TV show…and to prove that they’ve still got it some years after leaving the series! There’s also a real naughtiness and cheekiness about this famous five, and the fact that they speak so candidly about their experience on Strictly makes the audience feel like they are in the company of old friends from the outset…and getting insight into things they maybe shouldn’t be privy to!
As you enter the auditorium, seven large lit letters spell out '“LEGENDS” on stage, which remain in place throughout the show. Some may say this is a bold statement to make but as the performance progresses, any Strictly fan would say this is a well earned title for the men. A split level, plush red velvet curtained set makes for a very classy framework for the visual feast of dance on display and gives an intimate feel for the more “chit-chat” segments; the balance of which the show has got absolutely right.
From big group dances to more understated solo numbers, this production is full to the brim with content, thanks to Scott Caldwell’s creative direction and choreography (assisted by James Cutler). A lovely nod to the hope of a “Legends Come Dancing” series and also their personal dance inspirations including Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly to John Travolta and Patrick Swayze are incredibly entertaining, but that is also massively down to the five stunning female dancers who partner them throughout the show: Alexandra Busheva, Polina Meyer, Julia Ruiz Fernandez, Victoria Martin and Lowri Beth. In every routine, they complement one another, making the other person look utterly fab-u-lous…in the words of a certain Strictly judge.
This reviewer’s only slight gripe about the entire show is the finale, whereby the music choices seemed a little haphazard and shoehorned together. Crowdpleasers aplenty (‘Macarena’, ‘Saturday Night’, ‘Gangnam Style’, ‘Cha Cha Slide’) of course, but after such excellent music choices and production prior to this, the finale seems a little out of place. If they could have ended the night after their ‘My Way’ routine, this would have been utter perfection - although it is understandable them wanting to finish on a more upbeat note than this.
Having had success last year in the first Legends tour, plus already confirming their return next year, the quintet seem genuinely touched and amazed that there is still an appetite to watch them perform and this was more than evident by packing out Birmingham Symphony Hall last night where we caught the show. But what truly works about this tour is not only the sheer talent on stage, but the camaraderie and genuine friendship between the five men. Each has a strong character and place in the show, which ensures the perfect equilibrium throughout.
Pure, joyful escapism.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Jenny Ell
