Reviewed by Louise Edwards
Fans of the Argentinian dance tango, are treated this week in Nottingham, as superstar duet Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace hit the floors with Tango Moderno, currently on at the Theatre Royal in the city centre.
The set, designed by Morgan Large, is an industrial style backdrop, of apartments, the scene for the many stories that will unfold. As the lights dim, Vincent and Flavia step out from the shadows to cheers from the audience, to wow us with their light-footed, carefully choreographed and impeccable routine. The result is romantic, dramatic and fluid.
On the sidelines is singer Tom Parsons, who remains a presence on stage with his amazing vocals, introducing us through poetry to the main themes of the show – love (of course) and embracing life and living it to the full through the medium of dance.
Vincent and Flavia are joined by eight other talented dancers who each have their own mini-storyline that runs through the show providing comedy and fun. Contemporary themes bring the show to relate to modern issues keeping things real and edgy yet still retaining the traditions of the ballroom with a few twists and surprises.
The real stars, however, are Vincent and Flavia who create goosebumps with their strong stage presence and delicate yet powerful moves. The music is a mix of recognisable hits from Ed Sheeran and classics such as “When a man loves a woman”. Joining Parsons on vocals is Rebecca Lisweski and the talented violinist, Oliver Lewis (who is the 2010 Guinness World’s fastest violist!).
Credit also to the stunning costumes from Strictly Come Dancing’s costume designer Vicky Gill that adds to the illusion and drama of the action on stage. The show has depth and bags of character and will delight a lifelong fan of tango or someone new to dance.
The first half runs for around an hour with an interval and then a second half of around the same time. Time just flew by and we were all captivated by the magic and happily swept into the world of Argentinan tango of this fabulous show directed and choreographed to perfection by Karen Bruce.
We had a fantastic time and heartily recommend everyone to get their tickets and sit back and enjoy a fun evening of escapism.
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £17.50 to £39.50 (booking fees may apply).
Tango Moderno is at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham from 23-27 January 2018, for more information or to book tickets visit www.trch.co.uk or call the box office on 0115 989 5555.
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall, Theatre Square, Nottingham, NG1 5ND
