Vincent and Flavia - 'The Last Tango'

Hi all,

I know most of you won't already have been to the see the show yet so I'll try not to go into too much detail but some spoilers are unavoidable when doing a blog post, so if you don't want to know ANYTHING at all then best to wait until after you've seen the show before reading any further.

As always I had been dying to see this new creation from Vincent & Flavia, and couldn't wait for it to get to my neck of the woods so decided to make a 'weekend away' of it, and visit my friend Holly so that we both could go and watch it together at the Birmingham Hippodrome.

Anyway, on with the show and first things first, let's talk a little about the creatives. Once again the beautiful set is the work of Morgan Large, who has been part of the 'team' in all 3 of V&F's shows and coupled with gorgeous lighting from James Whiteside (who I think has also worked on all 3 stage productions) the perfect atmosphere is set which compliments the storyline perfectly. Adam Spiegel produces the show and Karen Bruce directs and co-choreographs with V&F to create their most intimate but in my opinion, best show yet.

Photo Credit : Manuel Harlan

To give a brief outline of the story, it begins with George (Teddy Kempner) who we see climbing the steps with the intention of packing up the attic. Reminiscing through the years while picking up some dusty long forgotten treasures he stares at his reflection in the mirror....enter a much younger and very dapper version of himself (Vincent) and the very beautiful Sally (Flavia).

A chance encounter over a dropped pair of gloves, followed by another meeting at the seaside while having fun with friends, leads to a beautiful courtship between George and Sally... fish and chips on a park bench followed by romantic dinner dates in expensive restaurants, lavish parties followed by cosy Christmases (which include a very festive range of knitwear and ever increasing amounts of Xmas stocking hanging on the fireplace - one of my favourite moments ),  all had me smiling from ear to ear at the happy moments, laughing out loud at the funny moments, and crying buckets at the sad moments.
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(George) - Photo credit Manuel Harlan

('Young' George & Sally) - Photo credit Manuel Harlan

Vincent & Flavia treat us to many solo numbers some of which are old familiar favourites from their time on Strictly and are so good to see again, especially in a whole new setting. There are also many new numbers like a  Viennese Waltz/American Smooth to 'At Last' which was absolutely gorgeous, and lots of others which are absolutely stunning but very poignant and will have you in floods of tears. Again I won't say too much about them for fear of spoiling as my words just wouldn't do them justice. They have to be seen with your own eyes to be appreciated.

Two routines that I just HAVE to talk about in a little more detail though are Flavia's Flamenco and of course the one everyone is waiting for, the Argentine Tango finale.

Firstly, the Flamenco.... this is danced early in Act 2 of the show and had the audience mesmerised. When I first learned that Flavia was going to be dancing a Flamenco I couldn't wait to see it. I just knew it would be an incredible moment in the show and I wasn't disappointed. The audience were enthralled by it and it is hard to believe that it was a brand new style for her and not one she had been practising for years. The whole atmosphere of the dance with the music, the lighting, the sound of the clapping, the sound of the feet tapping.... and the most gorgeous red dress, make this a definite WOW moment. Flavia is absolutely on fire and the audience loved it every bit as much as I did.

Photo credit : Manuel Harlan

Secondly, the brand new Argentine Tango finale..... You might think that you've seen the very best that V&F have to offer when it comes to dancing the AT as we have had the privilege of watching them perform a huge number of different variations throughout the years, but think again... YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET until you see this one! The entire audience held their breath I am sure from beginning to end and I'm almost certain that no one would have dared to even blink for fear of missing a single step. It was literally JAW DROPPING! And just FYI, I plan on bombarding the BBC with emails over the next few weeks in the hope that they will invite V&F onto SCD to dance this so that the world can see it... it has to be done! ;)

Photo credit : Manuel Harlan

Like I said though, those are just a couple of the fantastic routines that we see and V&F are supported by an incredible cast who don't put a foot wrong on stage, and are every bit as beautiful as they are talented and have some lovely group numbers both with V&F and on their own (including a very energetic swing/jive number and many others)

Photo credit : Manuel Harlan

Photo credit : Manuel Harlan

There are live musicians treating us to the most wonderful music, and a fab selection of old familiar songs (Beyond The Sea, When I Fall In Love, Moondance.... to name just a few) with Matthew Gent's gorgeous vocals and the occasional number from the amazingly talented Rebecca Lisewski who is also a brilliant dancer within the ensemble.

I also have to give a special mention to the costumes. The show goes through the decades starting with the 1930's and we see some beautiful ones for all of the cast but in particular the dresses for Flavia are just stunning. These were designed by Vicky Gill (DSI) and with the help of Caroline Hannam (head of Wardrobe) the cast are all very in keeping with the time period and the whole look of the show is visually gorgeous.

So, all in all I can't say enough how much I loved this show.  I saw an article about V&F just recently saying they are 'hoping to be the next Fred and Ginger' .... I'd say they have been there and done that already.
They have long been considered  one of the very best dance partnerships in the world, but since embarking on their own theatre tours, they are now amazing storytellers too and have learned great acting skills along the way.

I can't bear to think right now about this being their 'Last Tango' as they have been a joy to watch and support throughout the years, and although they say they are only 'putting away their suitcases and not hanging up their dancing shoes' they will no doubt be less accessible than they have been for the past few years where they have always been very generous with their time after shows, signing autographs and having photos taken. I will miss them tremendously and just hope that we still can enjoy them in some capacity once their touring days are over.

Bring on the movies I say ;)

Dilly
x

Visit the website for more details of dates/venues and for more info on the cast and creatives :
http://www.thelasttangotour.co.uk/

Out and About

Hi all,

Haven't blogged about anything in ages so just thought I'd write a little update. I love reading other people's blogs yet always forget I have one of my own that I could be writing in,

I usually have something specific to write about (usually Strictly/Theatre/Flavia/Vincent related) but I've had a nice weekend just being out and about with the family so might as well write a little update on what I've done and where I've been.

It's not often we get lovely weather here in Glasgow on a weekend, but this weekend we won a watch and had not only one nice day.... but TWO! I'm sure we'll pay for it with maybe a hurricane or tornado over the next few days.

Saturday

Made some plans on Saturday morning with my sister and niece to go for a nice canal walk and take in some sights while out and about. We decided to go to the Falkirk Wheel, which is basically a huge piece of machinery which was built in 2002 to lift and transport boats from one canal to another. It sounds pretty unexciting but is actually pretty interesting and is a big tourist attraction. We hadn't been in a few years so it was good to see the changes which had taken place since our last visit.

Falkirk Wheel

Canal Walk

On our way there we stopped off for a bit of lunch since we can't seem to go ANYWHERE without eating or drinking! I hadn't been in The Wheelhouse restaurant before, but it was a good choice with it being so close to the canal and had a lovely outside eating area where we could enjoy the rare sunshine without wasting a single ray of it sitting indoors.

Haggis fritter with red onion chutney - The Wheelhouse

Since we were in the area it would have been rude not to go and visit the beautiful Kelpies. These are two MASSIVE horses head sculptures which were opened to the public in 2014. They are absolutely gorgeous to see at night when they are all lit so I'll have to try and get some night time photos of them this year.  Again these are a lovely tourist attraction and are so impressive to see up close. People flock for miles just for a look. They are stunning and pics really don't do them justice.

The Kelpies

Sunday

Another beautiful day so it was up and out again to pick up Mum, Dad and Gran for a visit to Loch Lomond Shores.  There was a food and drinks festival on there this weekend and it was pretty much a perfect day for it.

Dad and Gran (mum's mum), who are almost 81 and 97 respectively, don't have great mobility so we didn't wander too far but still had a lovely day just wandering around the different food stalls, and listening to the entertainment that was going on around us.






















We're into Strictly and X Factor season which means winter is practically around the corner so it was nice to spend some time with the family and to have these couple of days out enjoying some of the beautiful scenery and landmarks that we sometimes take for granted even though they are practically on our doorstep. (Not quite but you know what I mean)

 Bye all until next time in Dillyworld :) x

Q&A with Flavia Cacace - Mistry

Hi all :-)

Following on from my 'Behind the Scenes at Dance 'Til Dawn' visit, Flavia has very kindly answered some questions which are mainly based on her day to day ritual while on tour with the show.


Q : How long does it take you to style your hair and apply your make up for each show? Are the basics done while at the hotel and just added to before the show for a more dramatic look, or do you prefer to create your whole look at the theatre?

A : I tend to get to the theatre at around 5pm and start the process of make up. That way at 6pm I am pretty much  ready and can join the rest of the cast for our pre-show warm up on stage. 
Sometimes other commitments set in which means I only do some of my make up and hair before warm up and then it's a mad scramble to get myself together after the warm up.
Luckily my hair as long as it is washed and has had a quick passing of the straighteners, doesn't take long.


Q : Do you follow a set make up ritual for every show to keep the same look or do you vary producst/eyeshadow/lip colours depending on mood?

A : Mostly I stick to the same as it's quicker to keep to a routine and also I like to take a minimal amount of products with me so there's less to move from theatre to theatre. Occasionally I will try a different lippy but I think once you find what works for you, it's good to stick to it. 


Q : Do you have a favourite dress, and if you could keep one after the tour finished, which would it be?

A : I don't really see the dresses like that. I have some at home that I don't really wear, I think I'm always thinking of the next option or creation.


Q : Are your preferences taken into consideration when deciding on costumes for the show? Do you sit in on the design process or are you happy enough to go with whatever style(s) have been created for you?

A : There's so much choreographing at the beginning of a new show that I like to leave the costume designers to it as I trust they know me well enough. I get to see the designs on paper and that's when I can make changes to things I'm not happy with, but I'm pretty easy going as they always tell me :)


Q : In a scenario where either of the understudies had to replace you or Vincent, would the routines be exactly the same as yours and Vincent's or is there a back up version that has been rehearsed?... e.g would they dance the same AT that you both do or would it be a shortened/simplified version given it isn't their speciality?

A : Pretty much all would be the same with the exception of the final Argentine Tango which would be different. Wouldn't want to kill anyone! 


Q : In the moments in the show where we see the characters 'acting' in the background, are they really having proper scripted chats with each other or is it all just nonsense talk without proper dialogue?

A : There's a lot of chit chat that goes on and most keep in character, and even if they talk about what they had for lunch, it is done in the style of an American gangster. It does make me laugh. 


Q : Any moments where the cast play little tricks/jokes onstage which are too subtle for the audience to notice, but which make you all want to laugh?

A : So many times is all I can say and I'm just glad the audience can't tell.


Q : Do you have to rehearse the show on the first day at every new venue or can you get a 'feel' for the stage just from your warm up?

A : We go in early on the first day at 4.30pm so you can get familiar with the back stage area, and where all the costume changes will happen etc. As you saw it is quite dark back there and you have to be careful where you are stepping.


Q : How do you prepare yourself mentally before a show and how do you unwind afterwards?

A : Getting ready is really my preparation. Listening to calming music is also good. I still get nervous each time so it's about staying calm and assertive. 
After is easy.... food, bath, bed.


Q : How do you pass your time when on tour in the hours when you're not needed at the theatre? Is a lot of it spent in your hotel watching TV/messing around until it's time to go to work like in a normal home/working environment? There's only so much shopping a girl can do I guess(?)

A : I like to sleep as much as I can. I have late nights and I feel I heal during sleep and wake up with a few less aches. To be honest there's always things to do as we do a lot of press interviews every week...emails...phone calls. 
Things like fitting in a massage, physio, nails, hair... they all take time. I also like to walk a lot too and get as much fresh air as possible beforehand. Sometimes we'll have clean up call and cover rehearsals too... Not much time left!!


Q : Finally, what are the best aspects of touring and what are the worst?

A : You get to see lots of beautiful places and sometimes not so beautiful places, most are lovely though. Travelling is good fun but it's hard to be away from home and living out of a suitcase, there's always something you wish you had brought with you..... or sometimes you have way too much of the wrong thing. Tricky to get it right. 


Thanks to Flavia for being so generous with her time and for answering all of my questions. Hopefully I didn't do too badly for a 'rookie interviewer' haha...! :-) 

Behind the scenes at Dance 'Til Dawn

Photo Credit : Manuel Harlan

Hi all

Haven't written anything here in ages so thought I would do a blog post on my recent backstage visit to Dance 'Til Dawn at Glasgow Kings theatre.

Anyone likely to read this blog is also likely to know how much of a superfan I am of the show (and of Vincent & Flavia) and so will also know how delighted I was to have the chance to go 'Behind the scenes' when the show came here to Glasgow.

Many of you will have seen Dance 'Til Dawn by now given that there are only a couple of weeks left, but for those who haven't I'll give a brief rundown of what it's all about.

Basically it is a story set in 1940's Hollywood with beautiful movie starlet Sadie Strauss (Flavia), her cheating actor boyfriend and co-star Bobby Burns (Ben), and wannabe actor Tony DeLuca (Vincent).
There is hilarious narration from private detective Tommy Dubrowski (Teddy Kempner), stunning vocals by The Voice (Oliver Darley) and a beautiful femme fatale, Lana Clemenza (Abbie Osmon) - Throw some bumbling gangsters, some very glamorous women and a fabulous live orchestra in, and you have two hours of world class dancing, amazing singing, and non stop entertainment from beginning to end.

It had been arranged for me to go in on Friday afternoon for a look around at the preparation process for the show, take some photos for our @VFDanceTilDawn Twitter page, and to meet all of the cast and backstage team.
I have met Flavia and Vincent numerous times and also had said hello to one or two of the other cast members, but on a whole I was looking forward to meeting EVERYONE involved with the show, and hearing about the work that they do.

Altogether I think there are around 40 people including cast, crew and wardrobe who TOUR with the show, with each venue having some local staff to help the touring crew/backstage staff  with the show preparations.

I was met at stage door by Martin who is the company manager and who I have to say was the most amazing tour guide. He very patiently showed me around every area of the theatre (both on and off stage)  and answered all of my many questions, making me feel very welcome and at ease for the whole of my visit. He was lovely and never at any time did I feel that he was getting bored showing me things or explaining a particular feature. He was brilliant. :)

One of the things I had been most looking forward to seeing on my visit was the amazing set which was designed by Morgan Large, I had totally loved his Midnight Tango set and it has always been a regret that I didn't ever see it closely enough to examine all of those quirky features it had... I could hardly wait to see all of the DTD set up close and it didn't disappoint. So cleverly constructed with moveable pieces for the cast to wheel off and on stage while telling the story of the show. Great craftmanship, I loved it.

Set Design : Morgan Large

Martin also introduced me to Jonny the stage manager who told me all about the stage construction, Nico who demonstrated the lighting features, and Pat who monitors every show from side of stage, making sure that the whole company are co-ordinated and everything running smoothly and on time. I also got to have a little play around with the sound desk where I had some great fun pressing various sound effect buttons which are used throughout the show... I now know where the *SPLASH, SQUELCH and SCRIBBLE* sound effects come from!! Hurrah!

Pat keeps a close eye on the stage throughout the show

Sound mixing desk 

Christina who helps organise the many props used, showed me all the various items and from having seen the show so many times already, I could easily remember where each item fit into the show, and what it's purpose was.

Selection of  props used

Another thing I had been dying to see was the wardrobe department where all of the costumes are meticulously cared for by Caroline (wardrobe supervisor) and her assistant Katie. You could be forgiven for thinking that with only a couple of weeks left of the show, that there wouldn't be such an urgency to keep the costumes looking the best they could, but you would be very wrong.
My first sighting was of Caroline bent over Flavia's Argentine Tango dress, carefully replacing sequins and stones, and of Katie combing through the fringing on one of the other girls dresses, studying it for any stray threads or piece of fabric that might have worked loose.  The attention to maintaining these costumes is plain to see when the cast are on stage as like I said before, the tour is just about at it's end, but yet to the audience eye, the costumes look as good and are cared for as much as they would have been on the very first week of the show.

Stones and sequins being meticulously replaced on Flavia's Argentine Tango dress

Next up was a peek inside both Vincent and Flavia's dressing rooms where Flav had a huge assortment of make up brushes, make up and all of the usual girly products that go into getting ready for a big night out.... Vincents dressing table was a little more sparse with a hair gel and hair dryer (maybe another one or two bits 'n' bobs) It was good to see inside as this was the first time I had ever been backstage in a theatre, so had often wondered what these things were like. I have to say, I thought they looked pretty alright. Nice and bright :-)

A girl can never have too many shoes...

I also had the great privilege of watching the cast in their warm up on stage. Before EVERY show, dance captain Gemma puts all of the cast through what looked to me like a very rigorous aerobics class! It was very impressive to watch, and oh my goodness but they are ALL super-fit!! I think I would have lasted all of 5 seconds before crumpling in a heap on the floor! I then got to see some of the cast work through some parts of the routines with Vincent and Flavia. Thanks to all of them for being so nice and allowing me to photograph them.

Gemma putting the team through their rigorous daily pre-show warm up

Working through some slight adjusments
with some cast members

Hello Danny :) 

Honestly, they all work so tirelessly and not one single cast member, or behind the scenes worker is ever complacent and all strive to make every single performance the best it can be. No one struck me as having an 'it's only our job' attitude.... they all genuinely seem to love their work, and are a very tight knit team.

Vincent and Flavia are the most down to earth, hard working pair and I guess this is something that helps in making a very happy ensemble/backstage team that enjoy their time together both on and off stage.  They were a delight to be around and nothing was too much trouble to explain. It was an absolute privilege for me and I loved every second of my visit.

HUGE thanks to Flavia and Martin for making it possible for me to be there, and thanks to the entire Dance 'Til Dawn team for being so friendly and kind. I had a fabulous day. Xx