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| Photo : Manuel Harlan |
After a bit of Midnight Tango chit chat today, I decided I would like to try and update my blog and add my thoughts about this years show. After much messing around, I finally found my way onto last years blog and think I have figured out how to go about personalising it and adding a new post! *Fingers Crossed*
Here goes.....
It is no big surprise to anyone who read last years blog how much I love Midnight Tango, and even now a full year later I still love it and could watch it all so many times still.
I saw the 2012 show right at the start of this years run back in January at The Aldwych in London's west end, and then saw it again in Aberdeen at the very end of their tour, and after about 6 months and just short of 200 shows, I have to say that it was still incredible and if the cast were feeling tired and weary, then there was no evidence of this on stage. They still all danced with the enthusiasm that I saw on that first weekend, and all gave 100% making the show as fresh and lively as it ever was. :)
Midnight Tango Moments
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| Photo : Manuel Harlan |
Dances : So many wonderful routines in this show, and every one of them danced to perfection! I think Flavia mentioned before that there are around 30 numbers in total but of course I can't write about them all, so will just jot down some of my own thoughts and highlights from the show this year, and not in the style of a proper review, but just in my own random way ;)
Milonga : So light and quirky and great fun to watch. The one thing I have always loved about Vincent and Flavias choreography, is how they fill every single piece of music so perfectly with a move or step to highlight every mood in the dance. I must admit that even after all these years of watching dance, I really don't have a clue about the timings etc, but I know when I see this that every step matches the music in every single way.
Tango Waltz : I love the music for this and the lovely romantic feel it has. The choreography is just perfect and I love the way they almost float across the floor their footwork is so light..... I have my fingers crossed that we might see this as a showdance on this years Strictly. :)
Temptation : I always think this routine gets a bit overlooked, as it is barely mentioned in reviews etc, but I think it is because it is in the first half of the show, and gets forgotten because of the very memorable routines in Act 2 like the guys fight scene, the gorgeous rumba and of course the Argentine Tango.
The bar lady (Rosa) singing, just adds to the whole smoky atmosphere of the bar, and Flavia (Sofia) is definitely 'Queen of the Sexy Walk.'
Rumba : Every show I have been to I have always had the urge to stand up with a loudspeaker beforehand, and inform the audience there will be no breathing, blinking, rustling of sweet wrappers, clearing throats or coughing, for the duration of this dance!! .... This part of the show has been the absolute highlight for me since the very first time I saw it and I have always been left spellbound every time. I have never seen a dance with such strong feeling, and this is like a whole love story with every emotion that goes with it, and all in this one dance..... Absolutely breathtaking!
Argentine Tango : The most amazing full on routine and so quick and precise! I love how it starts off so slow and then builds and builds until their feet look like they are barely touching the floor they are moving so fast. No one else comes even close to having the style and technique that they have IMO.
Finale : This is a brilliant finale and the whole Fiesta scene is just choc full of FAB dancing, great acting, and the most amazing footwork! It makes me smile from beginning to end and my hands are always sore from clapping afterwards!! The fairy lights and vibrant colours of the set and costumes all make for a great party atmosphere, and just full on brilliant and fab music that makes the whole audience want to get up and dance right alongside them. :-D
There are so many wonderful group dances too which really show some amazing choreography and the dancing from all the couples is breathtaking from beginning to end.
Other Midnight Tango Highlights.
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| Photo : Manuel Harlan |
Dresses :
I have loved the costumes for both years tours but the ones from this years show just edge it for me. The only Flavia dress I could say I preferred in the first year would be the turquoise one she wore in Act 1 of the 2011 tour. I do like the newer turquoise one, but just not quite as much! :D
The red/white one is so pretty and I think she suits it so much.... I would definitely wear this one out on a nice day if I could, lol.
The white one is absolutely gorgeous and when Vincent removes her coat in the rumba scene and she is wearing this, she looks soooo very beautiful you can actually hear the wow's from the audience.
I also love the black AT/Finale one at the end that is so very sophisticated and moves beautifully with every move of the dance.
Each dress conveys the change in her character as the show unfolds and she goes from shy girl in the blue opening dress, to the sultry and sexy woman in the black finale dress.
Every costume is very fitting with the story line and the period in which the show is set, but still not old fashioned in any way, and all very beautiful. :) I think all of the girls costumes are gorgeous and I love the individuality of them all with the different looks and styles.
A little mention for the shoes too and in particular the lovely turquoise ones that seem to be everyones favourites and were quite a talking point especially in last years shows when we first saw them :) All of the accessories are matched so well with the shoes and scarves and all the little bits and pieces that just add that finishing touch to every outfit of every cast member.
I think the Wardrobe Department did an amazing job and the costumes were all so well kept that they didn't look at all tired and worn even after so many months of constant wear and the Strictly fan in me can't help but pay special attention to the dresses in ANY show! :D
The Cast
WOW, what an incredibly talented group of dancers! None of them could be faulted and every one of them brought something special to the show. I have to give a special mention to Yaisuri and Leonel, as they were brilliant dancing together and on the times when Vincent and Flavia weren't on stage, those two were the ones I was drawn to watching. All in all, an amazing cast and if Midnight Tango is back next year, then I hope they are all back too :)
Teddy & Tricia : Oh how funny they were and brought a whole new dimension to the show with their comic antics and fab timing! :D Every time I saw the show, they had added something else and just got funnier and funnier. I could pick many many highlights from them, but Rosa re-applying her lipstick when the singer who she had a little crush on came near, her setting fire to Carlos newspaper, and them climbing up onto the bar in the finale are just a few of my favourite moments from them. :D
Their own little story was so very sweet with them having fallen out of love with each other as the years had gone by, only to find that special something was still there and falling in love all over again, and probably had a few audience members thinking about their own tired relationships and hopefully put that spark back into their own lives!! ;)
A definite stroke of genius to have them in the cast and I think the audience are taken totally by surprise when they realise just how much more than dancing, there is in this show.
Tango Siempre : Are just the perfect musicians to have with the show and another stroke of genius to have them as part of the whole story, and not tucked away were no one could see them. The cleverness of the way the whole cast is brought together to include them was brilliant for the show and these musicians played their part in the whole bar setting, as much as any of the dancers. Every piece of music they play fits perfectly with the storyline and I am only sorry that we don't have a CD from the show to listen back to. Every piece of music they play is magical!
The Set : This is just absolutely beautiful from Morgan Large.... I LOVE every single inch of character that it has, and I could sit and study it forever and see something new each time. The whole style of it is just beautiful and I always like to be at the show a little early so I can have a good look around and if it comes back next year, I am definitely sneaking up on stage while no one is looking, just so I can have a closer look. ;)
The Atmosphere is just PERFECT on this set, and I can't imagine a Milonga bar looking like anything other than the Midnight Tango bar. Everything from the smoky room to the amazing lighting is just perfection! Another of the things that make this whole show for me is the great effects used in the rumba scene with the stormy weather & the thunder and lightening. It creates the perfect setting for Sofia coming back to a heartbroken Pablo in the night and in the pouring rain when she realises that he is the one for her. I could see this whole chapter being played out in some big Hollywood movie, but it would never be as touching or romantic as when danced by Sofia and Pablo in the Midnight Tango bar.
Acting : Everyone on stage plays their part brilliantly, and while they might all be first and foremost dancers and musicians, every one of them has their character in this and play it perfectly! Obviously Teddy & Tricia are amazing at what they do and keep the audience fully entertained, but all of the others are brilliant at playing their part too, and in particular the big characters El Gato, Pablo and Sofia.
Leonel as El Gato is a brilliant baddie, and really gets into his character both in looks and dance and he plays his part so well.
Vincent as Pablo is amazing and you feel every emotion from his anguish at losing his girl, to his joy when he wins her back.
Flavia as Sofia is just WOW - She definitely plays her role to perfection, and the transformation in her character from beginning to end, is so very clear from her storytelling. One favourite moment has got to be where she breaks up the fight between El Gato and Pablo, and she really does look furious when she grabs her bag and storms off :D.... I still think she should slam the door behind her on her way out though :D
A little thing that I am going to add to my favourites even though it was mostly part of last years show, was Flavias violin playing. I saw her play in the west end on the first weekend of this years show, but not since then. It was a great part of the show and a pity it was taken out as it was quite a talking point, and people in the audience were always taken by surprise when she played..... This is something I hope is added again should we be lucky enough to have the show back next year.
ANYWAY!.... I haven't half rambled on again, but I'm sure anyone likely to read this already knows how much I can talk! I'll just finish off with a BIG thank you to all the cast and crew of Midnight Tango for such a wonderful show, and especially to Vincent and Flavia for always being very generous with their own time afterwards, and spending time chatting to us. I know it certainly makes my trip to the show that little more special :) xx
FINGERS CROSSED FOR MORE IN 2013.....
Credit to MANUEL HARLAN for photos taken from the official Midnight Tango website :
http://www.midnighttango.co.uk/
