Flashdance – The Musical

Flashdance - The Musical

It was never going to be an evening of high culture and it was with some degree of embarrassment that I revealed to friends that I was going to watch Flashdance – The Musical.

Not being a great fan of musicals in general it was more out of curiosity and a love of all things 1980s that tempted to me blag some tickets to this particular theatrical experience.

Set in Pittsburgh, USA, Flashdance tells the story of 18-year-old Alex, a welder by day and ‘flashdancer’ by night, whose dream is to obtain a place at the prestigious Shipley Dance Academy.

The plot is cliché-ridden, from the heartless steel mill boss and his conscience-stricken nephew (played by former Hear’Say singer Noel Sullivan), through the “rich boy/poor girl” love story to the “bar dancer wows ballet school audition.”

But despite all the cliches, and the dodgy American accents, I couldn’t help but fall in love with the show. The dancers were amazing and incredibly supple – especially in the numerous pole dancing scenes.

The show was choreographed by Arlene Phillips (of Strictly Come Dancing fame) and just watching the sheer energy of the dancers made me feel exhausted.

The cast also included former Coronation Street actor Bruno Langley as the drug addicted delinquent and Bernie Nolan ( of The Bill and Brookside) as Alex’s mum.

Alex was played by Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, who’s singing was slighting grating but she knocked the audience dead and got a near total standing ovation with her moves during the final routine when she danced for her life to What A Feeling.

A night of high culture it was not but the show was well put together with great performances and a fantastic set. I’m putting Flashdance in the category of a theatrical guilty pleasure.