Strictly Ballroom at HCT

I don't know if there is anyone out there who loves the movie Strictly Ballroom as much as my sisters and I do! We have probably watched it over one hundred times (not an exaggeration) and we can quote the whole movie to each other at will (and we often do). When HCT announced the 2020 season, the three of us could hardly contain our excitement over the U.S. premiere of the musical based on this cult classic. I was able to see it last night (I am seeing it again next week with both of my sisters and my Mom) and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the production. Scott Hastings (Noah Bradford) and his ballroom dancing partner Elizabeth Holt (Alexa Knutzen) are on their way to winning the Pan-Pacific Grand Prix Open Amateur Old Time, New Vogue, and Latin Championship but, after an incident on the dance floor with another couple, Scott resorts to his own flashy crowd-pleasing steps. The Australian Federation President Barry Fife (Zac Freeman) denounces them so Liz decides to dance with Ken Railings (Brandon Perry) instead.  His mother Shirley (Claire Kenny) and his coach Les (Bryan Dayley) try to find him another partner, including the Champion Tina Sparkle (Alexis Burton), but Fran (Serena Kozusko), a beginning student, tells him she wants to dance with him using his steps. They train in secret with her father Rico (John Graham), who teaches them a more authentic version of the Paso Doble.  However, Shirley, Les, and Barry Fife all try to convince him to dance Federation steps with Liz to win the Pan-Pacific Championship. His father Doug (Benjamin J. Henderson) ultimately convinces him that he will live his life in fear if he doesn't follow his heart and dance his own steps with Fran. The musical follows the movie pretty well, with the addition of a master of ceremonies named Wally Strand (Quinn Dietlein) who narrates the action and provides the music. All of the songs from the movie, including "Time After Time," "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps," and "Love is in the Air," are included but I really enjoyed the dance-themed pop songs that are interspersed throughout, such as "Let's Dance" by David Bowie, "Dancing With Myself" by Billy Idol, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" by Whitney Houston, and "Dancing in the Streets" by Martha & and the Vandellas. The ballroom dancing in this show is absolutely fabulous and so much fun to watch. Bradford and Kozusko, in particular, are amazing dancers and have so much chemistry with each other! I loved the costumes, especially Fran's Paso Doble dress which is incredible, but I have one tiny complaint and that is that Liz's dresses should be yellow. The set is mostly comprised of a large stage with spotlights and cabaret tables all around (patrons can sit at these tables during the show) with Kendall's Dance Studio coming down from the rafters and the Hastings's kitchen coming up from the pit. The disco balls hanging from the ceiling and the red metallic door curtains at every entrance provide the perfect atmosphere for a dance competition. This show is just so much fun and, if you are a fan of the movie, you are sure to love it!  Go here for tickets.

Note:  I can't wait to see it again with my sisters. I just hope that we can control ourselves (I apologize in advance to anyone sitting near us!).