The Last Tango
New Wimbledon Theatre
16 February 2016
4 Stars
UK Tour Details
Billed as Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace’s last theatre show, The Last Tango is a slick, stylish and emotive production which takes the form of a memory play.
George, an older man, is cleaning out his attic prior to moving out, as he finds various items he is taken back to key moments dominated by the love of his life.
Vincent and Flavia play the younger versions of George and his love. Their performances are electric, overpowering and exude enormous amounts of emotion. As a partnership in the dance, they both display an innate chemistry, they work together as a unit or in support of each other, but always displaying the precision and professionalism that has won them numerous awards during their careers. It’s hard to take your eyes off them on stage.
The Last Tango displays the different styles of Tango using a variety of well-known music from the early 1920’s onwards. It’s heady stuff during some of the more lively numbers, but for me the heart-breaking World War II section using the main theme from Schindler’s List, was a knock out. Performed to an accompaniment on solo violin, it bought a tear-inducing end to the First Act.
Teddy Kempner plays the present day George, rummaging through his loft bringing old objects to life. It’s a performance full of humour, with beautiful timing as he sets the scene through the discovery of objects from his past.
Vocally, the majority of the songs that become the soundtrack to George’s life are performed by Matthew Gent. Throughout the production, Gent manages to add colour and character to the songs in the production. He injects era invoking flavour to this eclectic collection of songs. Gent sings everything from Boogie Woogie to Bacharach, culminating in a version of Autumn Leaves, which easily ranks as the best I have ever heard.
The Last Tango is blessed with an abundance of talent to compliment Vincent and Flavia. Callum Clack, Diana Girbau, Rebecca Herszenhorn, Jamie Hughes-Ward, Aaron James, Rebecca Lisewski, Jemima Loddy and Grant Thresh dance up a storm throughout the show.
Morgan Large’s simple, stylised set allows for movement with the dance but also creates an environment from which George can remember the past. It’s complimented beautifully by James Whiteside’s lighting design, which managed to bring the subtlety of the dance to the fore.
Director and Co-Choreographer Karen Bruce, working together with her Co-Choreographers Vincent and Flavia have woven together a wonderful evening in the theatre. Their skill is in bringing a lifetime of love to the stage, and leaving us as the audience wanting more.
If you are (like me) a lover of those wonderful MGM musicals that saw some of the iconic dancers of a generation grace our screens, then The Last Tango should be on your must-see list. Through their involvement with Strictly Come Dancing, the duo have becomes favourites and are beloved by their audience who on the night we reviewed the show gave the show a full house standing ovation.
It’s a shame this will be their last theatre production, but with The Last Tango, Vincent and Flavia have delivered a finale that will be remembered for a long time to come.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE UK TOUR OF THE LAST TANGO
Photos: Manuel Harlan
