Movin’ Out
By Alison Kirkman
After 1,331 performances at the Richard Rogers Theatre on Broadway in New York, Movin’ Out closed there on December 11, 2005. It opened in London at the Apollo Victoria Theatre on March 28 and closed earlier than previously expected, on May 22. It had originally been booking until July 17.
Having seen Movin’ Out in New York last year and enjoyed it very much, I was very pleased to hear it was coming to London. I was, however, a little sceptical about how a UK audience would react to it.
Labelled a m
usical but with a cast of pure dancers, none of whom sings a solitary note, and with no dialogue at all, it really is quite unique as a West End show. The music and songs – all written by 70s soul/rock singer Billy Joel – are belted out by a big rock band suspended from the roof of the stage. Playing piano and lead vocals is Jamie Fox of the BBC’s “Fame Academy”. Perhaps it is more dance theatre. One thing’s for sure – you certainly must read the synopsis before Act I begins so you know for sure what is going on.
The story, conceived, choreographed and directed by Twyla Tharp, is set in the 1960s and follows a group of teenagers as they leave school and enter the big wide world. Tharp is internationally renowned as a choreographer, having created more than 125 dances, worked on five Hollywood films, directed and choreographed two Broadway shows, written two books and choreographed works for many companies including The Paris Opera Ballet, The Royal Ballet, New York City Ballet and the Martha Graham Dance Company. She has also received many awards for her work, including, in 2003, a Tony Award for Best Choreography of a musical for Movin’ Out.
Act I of Movin’ Out sees one pair of sweethearts (James and Judy) get engaged and dance a sweet duet to “Just the Way You Are”, just as another (Brenda and Eddie) decide to break up. Brenda, played Holly Cruikshank – taller than any other cast member and impressive, but only because she is all legs and arms – finds freedom in the split and becomes confident and happy, dancing and flirting with all the boys to the Joel song surely everyone knows – “Uptown Girl”. Eventually she and the fifth friend in the group, Tony (David Gomez), who has been longing to find love since James and Judy got engaged, get together.
Soon afterwards, the boys are all called into service and have to go off to war. Sadly James (Matt Dibble) is killed in combat and after a scene incorporating some quite violent body thrashing along with many crashes, lightening blasts and simulated gun shot sounds, his body is returned home and Laura Costa Chaud as his heartbroken fiancée, Judy, dances a beautiful solo. Costa Chaud is petite but manages to convey a huge amount of emotion in her movements. She dances on black point shoes, her face covered in a black veil and she really stands out alongside Gomez as one of the best dancers in the cast.
As Act I ends, there is a general feeling of sadness, which is a shame but really unavoidable. So much happens in such a short space of time – it’s difficult to take in.
Thank heavens then for Act II where, after the first few scenes of old friends meeting after such traumatic happenings and getting to know one another again, things are much more cheerful and the dancing really does take your breath away.
At first I thought this was a show for dedicated Billy Joel followers or perhaps even just Twyla Tharp fans only but actually, there’s something here for everyone to enjoy. The choreography is definitely designed to crowd-please. Tharp has put in all the most impressive moves she can and has the dancers leaping, somersaulting and performing fouettés time and time again. The first night celebrity audience of course loved it and applauded certainly after each number and sometimes in between. What a shame it has such a short run.
