Life is strictly ballroom

I yesterday had the suprise of going to see Strictly Ballroom The Musical for the second time. I was so suprised when we got there we were in the back of the stalls, we then got an upgrade which was so nice of the Lyric Theatre at The Star (thanks team) and we settled into our seats. As soon as the lights came down, the opening bars of blue Danube began and the audience got their first glimpse of the cast walking downstage towards us. I immediately smiled and felt somewhat proud to be seeing the production again. For it's a show that I dare to say is by far my favourite. (Hense the URL of my blog) The minute the cast opened their mouths and started to sing I got shivers of excitement and I started to mouth the lyrics to "When you're Strictly Ballroom" I've only seen the show once before but I have a fantastic memory and I remember things that I really like. I have no bad words to say about the opening it was a big opening sequence with lots of colour, feathers, sparkle and a very enticing quick change onstage ( great job on the costumes Catherine ) I had already lost my once collective mind and dived into the world of happy faces and happy feet. I was already loving Rohan Brown's Ken Railings. His facial expressions in the samba made me do a spit take and I was already done and it was only the opening!

Sophia Katos' Liz Holt was a perfect melodramatic diva that I personally have deep down inside and I'm sure everyone has. The use of sililoquay in the show by Scott, Fran, Shirley and Lez just brought it to the next level of musical. Then here comes Thomas Lacey's Scott Hastings yea we know he can dance, a few barrel turns in the open "dancing his own steps" in the show. I can't say a bad thing about him. I throughout the show wanted to scream out for Scott but I didn't, I kept my cool and saved my fangirling love for the stage door. But HO MY GOD can he sing ! "Shooting Star" will be my new anthem when we finally get a cast album. I wanna pump that shit in my car. Get on it PLEASE ! Then we have the lovely Phoebe Panaretos' Fran She is just.... i can't even finish that sentence thats how dare i say She is the PERFECT Fran for Teejee's Scott. Everybody has a little Fran in them and I know personally that a lot of the time I feel like Fran, feeling like the ugly duckling but like Fran, when she first speaks to Scott she has the hope of being given a chance and thats what I want. I work hard just like Fran and I want to be given a chance to be who i truly am. A performer. During the training sequence, i thought it was extremely clever that every time Fran ran offstage she lost some of her frumpiness in her costume. It showed her transformation really well and showed her journey that Scott takes her on, with her being more comfortable with Scott.

I cried when Scott and Fran sung Time After Time out of pure sadness that I don't have anyone like that yet.(call me Lacey )  I will admit that I began to tear up when Thomas danced because he is just so beautiful when he dances. I saw through his solo that he wasn't just dancing he was expressing who he his and that he was indeed "flying". They were the only times I cried in the First Act.

The finale of act one is the reason why my url is my url. In Scott and Fran learning Real Paso Doble from Rico, Frans father played by the amazing, awesome Fernando Mira he educates them both that although "hot stuff can shake his tail feather he knows chicken shit about rhythm" Rhythm comes from within and its the power within that is real dancing and not to be afraid  of that power because a life lived in fear is a life half lived. Something that Barry Fife and the federation don't realise. In the act one finale Scott has a transformation to becoming a dancer who dances with his heart rather than his feet. He becomes a man in this finale. I lost my mind over the balero jacket that Rico gives to Scott. It is so beautiful and I would seriously give anything to try it on.

If you thought act one was amazing act two is certainly a roller coaster. We start off with pan pacific champions Nathan Starkey and Tina Sparkle announcing that they will be splitting. This naturally sets the whole act up. Kendalls dance studio all agree and organise that Scott will be dancing with Tina. Unbeknownst to them that he was been with Fran and her family relearning how to dance and learning that Life is a leap of faith. Scott wants so badly to change the ballroom world by showing people that it's not just about perfect feet and happy faces, it's about expressing yourself through each step you take each step is home, a palace  in which history is told.

Federation President Barry Fife will do anything to stop this and to stop Scott from revolutionising the world of ballroom he tells Scott the truth about his father, Doug Hastings.  In a clever flashback sequence Drew Forsythes' Doug has the looks, the charm and everything to be a ballroom king with partner Shirley everything is mirrored to Scott's story as he finds out that Doug was bored with dancing federation steps and that cause him to go insane and lose the championships. But the trouble comes when he tells Scott that if Scott makes the same mistake Doug did Doug will probably die. Scott makes the decision to dance like everyone else, for fear of disappointing his dad.(What an idiot). It's only when he lets down Fran and learns the truth about his father is when he comes to his senses.

I cried throughout the ballad of Beautiful Surprise purely for what it stood for. Fran and Scott both feel the same way. She thinks that he is a gutless wonder again and he feels the same way. Scott makes things right by asking Fran to dance in the Latin round. Lucky enough the outfits are all there. Scott makes a dramatic entrance wearing the manly balero jacket and Fran's red flamenco dress sparkles in its own right similar to the one worn in the film. Going against the studio and the federation in order to prove that anyone can dance but it's the passion inside that drives someone to dance without fear. I could tell the passion in both Scott and Fran and Thomas and Phoebe as they danced. It was truly inspiring. However this was cut short as drama unfolds as they dance across the floor. Punch ons and a quick announcement from Barry fife don't stop Scott and Fran from dancing and with encouragement from doug  and the crowd Scott and Fran definitely solidify the new revolution of ballroom. The show ends with love is in the air and a kiss( from which I secretly am dying inside ) and the cast take their long awarded bows. 

I give my standing ovation to the entire cast and inparticular  pals and mentors such as Mike Snell, Kate Wilson and Fernando ( he had a fan club) Rohan, Natalie Gamsu, Drew, Bob Baines, Heather Mitchell and of course Thomas and Phoebe. 

Perhaps the most exciting part is that I was chosen to come onstage and dance with the cast of the show. Ryan Gonzalez was the best dance partner ever. He was so surprised that I could dance (like actually ballroom dance). Best suprise for him. He then left me and I got to dance to about 800 people on the stage of the Lyric. Seriously living my dream. I did what I do best I danced my little heart out and loved it for a full five minutes. I took many bows just thinking how much I want to do It for a living. It inspired me even more to work harder. 

We then gathered in the foyer and people came up and gave me compliments like " are you a plant? Are you apart of the show?" I was like no I wish. 

 I then got to see some of the cast and probably make a complete fool out of myself seeing the gorgeous Thomas Lacey.

We then caught up with Mike  and Fernando who was so suprised he had a mini fan club. It was so cute! 

Seriously if you have a chance see Strictly Ballroom The Musical before it leaves sydney. 

I learnt through the show that listening to your heart is the most important thing. You may disappoint people but as long as you believe in your self the right people will believe in you. 

xoxo Belle

Ps. These photos are copyrited. Please ask my permission for public viewing.