Carol Ball and Joanne Clifton in Flashdance The Musical at the Aylesbury Theatre and Touring. Picture: Brian Hartley
Flashdance The Musical continues at the Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury until 25 November and then tours until 25 August 2018.
Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩
As many fans of the hugely popular 1983 film will know, Flashdance focuses on teenager (and welding apprentice) Alex Owens as she step by step gets closer to pursuing her dream of becoming a dancer.
Alex also works at a club in the evenings alongside friends Gloria, Kiki and Tess. The girls’ rendition of ‘Put It On’ is thoroughly enjoyable.
Unfortunately the romance between Alex (Joanne Clifton) and Nick Hurley (Ben Adams), her boss, lacks chemistry and the relationship seems clichéd.
The fact that Nick pays off the teachers for Alex’s dance audition is shaken off far too easily. However, this may be down to the nature of the original cheesy 1980s plot.
The high intensity and energy of the performances can not be faulted though. Boosted by Matt Cole’s choreography, the cast’s consistent and spirited enthusiasm draws in the audience.
This level of vibrancy is exactly what is expected from Strictly Come Dancing champion Clifton who demonstrates her character’s passion for dance (as well as her personal commitment to the art form).
Clifton’s dancing is not her only talent either, her powerful vocals enhance the performance too. Elsewhere, Adams’ vocals make the songs feel as if we are at one of his old boy band gigs.
However, the audience still can’t get enough of an entertaining score. Gloria, played by Hollie-Ann Lowe, steals the show with her rendition of yes, you guessed it, ‘Gloria’, and her likeable, sincere portrayal offers a welcome alternative narrative.
The cast showed us how to party in the 1980s as the audience members took to their feet to dance to ‘What a Feeling’ for one final time.
Molly Kerrigan
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