Dancing in the Streets – Richmond Theatre and Touring

Jade Albertson and Leon Ihenacho in Dancing in the Streets at Richmond Theatre and Touring. Picture: Irina Chira

Dancing in the Streets was performed at the Richmond Theatre, Surrey and continues touring until 29 November.

Dancing in the Streets originally burst into life in the West End at the turn of the century at the Cambridge Theatre to mixed critical acclaim. Falling squarely into the category of ‘jukebox musical’, lively performances of Motown’s most popular hits take precedence over any narrative structure and the current tour uses this as one of its strengths. There is no attempt to shoehorn the songs into any mawkish storyline and the cast – particularly the men – appear to take great pleasure in engaging with its audience. In return, the audience are having a whale of a time, happily dancing wildly and singing along to their favourite hits – even in the near packed house in Richmond on a rainy Sunday night!

As a concert (originally devised by Keith Strachan), it is a fairly slick affair that covers hits from, among others The Four Tops, The Temptations, Diana Ross and the Supremes and Martha & The Vandellas. The live band, led by musical director Rob Eckland, is spot on with its arrangements and the vocalists – four men and three women – put their own spin on the back catalogue of hits.

Despite the harmonies and iconic groups represented, each performer gets their own moment in the spotlight. Michael Anthony Duke demonstrates a remarkable falsetto belt for ‘The Tracks of My Tears’ and has the audience clicking their fingers in perfect time to The Temptations’ ‘Just My Imagination’. Julian Cannonier takes time out to tell a little about the history of some of the numbers and evidently enjoys bringing the audience to its feet with the Isley Brothers standard ‘This Old Heart of Mine’, while Duane Lamonte has the ladies in the audience on the edge of their seats for The Commodores’ ‘Three Times a Lady’.

The Voice finalist Leo Ihenacho proves especially popular with the audience – the power of television exposure –  delivering a selection of numbers including the popular ‘I Heard It Through the Grapevine’, ‘Tears of a Clown’ and a duet with Jade Albertson of ‘Endless Love’. Albertson makes a convincing Diana Ross, although vocally Natasha Cottriall really hits the mark with Supremes hits ‘You Just Keep Me Hangin’ On’ and ‘Stop! In the Name of Love’.

The late Edwin Starr appeared in the original tour of Dancing in the Streets alongside Martha Reeves, and although he passed away in 2003 his memory lives on through numbers such as the rousing Act I finale, ‘River Deep Mountain High’ and, of course, his self-penned ‘War’.

It might be argued that shows such as Dreamgirls, Hairspray or even Little Shop of Horrors may reference the Motown sound and provide a traditional musical theatre structure far superior to Dancing in the Streets. However, beneath the volume of such well-performed hits, the live band and Carole Todd’s slick staging, there is little room for musical theatre cynicism, especially when you see a pretty full theatre, mostly on their feet dancing.

Paul Vale

www.flyingmusic.com/our-shows/dancing-in-the-streets