The Stage

Flashdance

Published Friday 29 August 2008 at 12:10 by Roddy Phillips

The 1983 film Flashdance was notable for its lead character - a sexy female welder turned contemporary dancer played by Jennifer Beals and for two hit songs, What a Feeling and Maniac.

Twenty five years later, Flashdance has been transformed into a raunchy, punchy stage musical specially designed for The X Factor generation with the outstanding Victoria Hamilton-Barritt playing Alex the welder who dreams of gaining a place at a prestigious dance school.

Although Alex can only guess how good she is, the audience knows that under that dirty baggy boiler suit there’s a first class dancer raring to burst out. By Act II, the world of welding’s loss will be every choreographer’s dream come true. In this case - Arlene Phillips who digs up those eighties moves and makes them shine.

Skilfully directed by Kenny Leon, and co-starring Bruno Langley, Bernie Nolan and Noel Sullivan, this sexy stage version is everything the film wanted to be, it even has a heart and a relentless beat that makes it irresistible. It’s cheesy but it’s so alive with the human condition that you can easily forgive its slighter moments.

Most of the songs are, of course, new numbers, but they are delivered with passion and power. None more so than Ruthie Stephens’ show stopper The Long Way Home.

Flashdance the musical deserves to be a success, it’s a bold crowd pleaser with all the right ingredients.