Be careful what to expect of this hip-hop/ballet musical hybrid, it has something of an identity crisis. It doesn’t seem to be billed as a children’s show but definitely feels like one: the plot is a modern urban spin on Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, and a few other fairytale characters. It’s told as a fairytale and is directed in the mood of a pantomime, and, except perhaps for one scene in which bags of suspicious white powder are traded, this is well-suited for pre-teen children.
This is first and foremost a dance performance, so the plot is simple. In fact, the plot is quite well-integrated into the dancing, which is more than can be said of many dance shows. The introduction is lengthy and a little tedious but the fairy tale side of things does improve in the second half.
This would be a boring hour if that was all there was, but almost every second is spent in choreographed dance routines. Sadly, although the dancers are generally talented, this is definitely not top-drawer stuff, it’s generally no more impressive than a music video. The routines are at times inventive, but this is the exception rather than the rule.
Also, despite a fair amount of skill, the dancers aren’t always quite in time, especially during slower movements: they can’t agree on where “soft” beats lie and this betrays a weakness in their training. This is another reason to consider this a children’s show rather than a serious dance act. As a pantomime, though, it’s deeply average.
The audience liked it,though, they gave a standing ovation.
3/5
Bernie Greenwood
