Get Your Dance On

In Edinburgh, you go to shows, right? And after the show, if it was good and if you're sufficiently lubricated, you have a dance. But how about if you want a show and a dance? Can this even work? Are the two synonymous?

Usually not. Yet, descending into the dark depths of the C Venues basement for Hartshorn and Hook’s stellar production of Blues Brothers Live, it’s impossible not to start shakin’ your tail feather as soon as the lights go down. Running at just 55 minutes, this is more of a party than a production and right from the second number the audience were in the aisles joining in with the singing, dancing, and unashamed rockin’ and rollin’.

The relentlessly enthusiastic cast, complete with a full jazz ensemble, blazed their way through well-known numbers such as Soul Man, Gimmie Some Lovin’ and Jailhouse Rock. Songsters Sam Parry and Josh Mumby made extremely plausible Belushi and Ackroyd lookalikes in the title roles, sporting suits and dark glasses even though it was most decidedly not sunny on this rainy Edinburgh night. Their dream team was joined on stage by the somewhat typecast but nonetheless extremely effective Ncuti Gatwa with his three-in-one Ray Charles, James Brown and the Rev. James Cleveland. The energy of the singers was matched only by the band, whose enthusiasm in both their playing and their cameo roles lit up the theatre. A special mention needs to go to trumpeter, ‘Mr Fabulous’, who most certainly lived up to his namesake with a glass-shattering array of top notes and a tone to die for. Another highlight were the sashaying, smiling backing singers, with sparkly sequin dresses and ahellalotta attitude. Giving stunning performances, amongst others, of the mildly disturbing Minnie the Moocher and Aretha Franklin’s feel-good girl-power-ballad Think; these lovely ladies effortlessly charmed the rather rowdy front row clientele.

Directors Louis Hartshorn and Brian Hook certainly seem to be seasoned veterans at putting what seems to be “the best party at the fringe” having now championed the show for three years running. Both producers and performers know exactly what the audience want, and were expert in coaxing even the most reluctant audience member into the all-singing all-dancing party. As the sweaty audience poured out into the driving rain, hats off to the cast, band and crew for what was yet another fantastically energetic show stopper.

Mission from God? Well, I don’t know about the big man, but everyone else certainly had a darned good ol’ time.  

Blues Brothers Live will be at C Venues at 23.00 from the 13 - 29 August. Tickets available from edfringe.com. The same cast and company are also staging The Rat Pack  at C ECA (Edinburgh College of Art)