Flashdance the Musical - Cardiff

Reviewed By: Rin Simpson

It's not easy producing a stage version of a classic film like Flashdance. And the musical version, which opened in Cardiff on Monday, has taken the slightly dangerous step of not sticking religiously to the 1983 cult hit.

But they haven’t overstepped the mark and the basic storyline – of a welder and exotic dancer who dreams of getting a place at a prestigious dance school – is left intact.

The famous water scene, too, is faithfully portrayed, while musical numbers like Maniac and What A Feeling brought a nostalgic smile to the face.

But where the stage version really comes to the fore is in the quality of its cast.

Victoria Hamilton-Barritt’s Alex, for example, is just as feisty as her screen counterpart, if not more so, and while Jimmy’s story isn’t in the original film, Bruno Langley brings his considerable acting talent to the part and makes him one of the star characters of the show.

Also showing his star potential is Noel Sullivan as Nick Hurley. It’s too easy to sneer at a former pop star who steps into musicals, but Noel shines as Nick as he never did in Hear’Say. He impressed not only with his voice but also his looks (he’s grown up a bit since his pop band days) and surprisingly good acting skills. He received rapturous applause at his final bow and won a raft of new female fans.

Mention must be given to Ruthie Stephens who gave a sympathetic performance as dancer Gloria, and Vanessa Leagh Hicks as Alex’s mum Hannah, whose love for and frustration with her headstrong daughter were skilfully delivered.

One thing that didn’t quite live up to the screen magic though, was the dancing itself. While the cast’s skill was obvious – interludes featuring individuals break dancing and body popping were a fantastic touch – the “sexy” exotic dancing wasn’t all that sexy, and there were frustratingly few moments of choreography when Alex was allowed to reach her full potential.

But the second half did hold some real gems, including a disturbing dream sequence which showed real originality.

If the stage version isn’t quite as good as the film, it’s not something that’s going to keep the punters away. Judging by the applause – and the partial standing ovation – that marked the end of the show, Flashdance: The Musical has managed to win the hearts of those fans after all.

© Wales Online, 12/11/08

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