Strictly Tap Dance Fever – Darlington Civic Theatre
Director: Brian Rogers
Choreographer: Emma Rogers
Reviewer: Ian Cain
Star The Public Reviews Rating: 
‘Strictly Tap Dance Fever’ is an exhilarating potted history of all that is, was and has been tap-danced in the wonderful world of showbiz. Beginning in the era of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and continuing throughout the heyday of the Hollywood musical, right up to the contemporary styles of today, it is a show that leaves you breathless just by watching it.
The company of sixteen works extremely hard throughout, yet they make it all look so darn easy. They are certainly an energetic and enthusiastic lot and, despite the skill and complexity involved in executing the routines, they managed to do so without even breaking into a sweat!
The show was held together by lead performers Steve Serlin and Lara Denning. Serlin certainly knows how to hold a note and his assured performances were delivered with style and sophistication. The experience he has garnered from performing in such shows as ‘Saturday Night Fever’, ‘Piaf’, ‘Godspell’ and ‘Chess’ was abundantly evident
I was slightly underwhelmed by Lara Denning, who didn’t seem to comfortably fill the shoes of a leading lady and looked more than a little out of her comfort (and capability) zone. It just goes to show that plucking a performer from the relative obscurity of the chorus (which is where Denning was last time I saw her perform in ‘All The Fun of the Fair’) may work in the cases of Elaine Paige and Shirley Maclaine, but not every time. In fairness, though, she did a decent job of ‘Fever’.
Whilst this production is a must for fans of tap-dance, unfortunately, at times, I felt my attention beginning to wane.
Runs until Saturday 29th May 2010.
Tags: Brian Rogers, Dance, Darlington Civic Theatre, David King, Emma Rogers, Lara Denning, Steve Serlin, Strictly Tap Dance Fever, tap, Tour 2010.
2:00 pm on June 1st, 2010
i went to see it and it was absolutley fantastic i was speechless at the end of it emma rogers rules!!
4:55 pm on July 6th, 2010
Amazing, the first tap show i have been to that i thought was imense emma your a star
4:56 pm on July 6th, 2010
Intense!
9:10 pm on July 10th, 2010
I liked the boys tap when they were on the platforms.
The main girl sing was annoying with her hair