The Hot Dots – Lowry Theatre, Salford

Director: Kristine Landon-Smith

Reviewer: Ruth Lovett

The Public Reviews Rating:

Acrobatic skills combined with projection and theatre creates the story of Frank and Evie, two performers who create their own acrobatic dance act in a 1928 vaudeville theatre.

Frank (Kaveh Rahnama) is a juggler with his own regular performance slot. One evening he is forced to share his dressing room with Evie (Lauren Hendry) who is the new acrobatic act. Very rapidly the two fall in love and go on to create their own double act, the Hot Dots whose energetic, high octane routines thrill audiences nightly.

However the success on stage takes it toll on their relationship with Evie’s lust for fame overtaking her lust for Frank, the cracks soon begin to show and the relationship beings to break down.

The acrobatic skills of Rahnama and Hendry are unquestionable with the pair performing some breathtaking stunts that leave the audience gasping with delight. Unfortunately the storyboard could do with some work. There a some long periods of inaction with Hendry or Rahnama moving around the stage silently contemplating their situation for unnecessary prolonged periods and while we appreciate the need to catch ones breath after a quick succession of fantastic acrobatic moves; it breaks the ebb and flow of the piece and makes it appear stilted in parts.

The back story is nothing original and lacks creativity but does allow the pair to demonstrate the progression of the love story through a series of fast paced swing inspired numbers, a slow passionate section set to a love song and display anger and frustration at the relationship disintegrates; showing great musicality and the skill of choreographing the moves to the music in a stylish fashion.

The use of the projection screen adds little to the performance and feels somewhat unnecessary but all told, this is an enjoyable performance that with some work could become much more memorable and feel much more complete and polished. The trust between Rahnama and Hendry is a sight to behold and produces an accomplished and skilful performance that must be commended.