Brendan Cole: All Night Long at the Adelphi Theatre

One thing that has to be said for Brendan Cole’s All Night Long is that it has the sparkle and talent of a Strictly Come Dancing episode, which is great for those who are a fan of the show. Unfortunately, for those that aren’t, the jokes and commentary that come along with the great dancing might go amiss.

Overall, the quality of last night’s show could not be faulted: great dancers and incredible musicians all worked to highlight the talent of the leading man. At points, it seemed too focused on Cole, with the lighting being a particular detail that worked to emphasise him. Although understandable, it meant that dances without the central performer felt as if they were missing something – even when they were interesting.

While there was a variety of different dances performed on stage, towards the end the partner routines felt repetitive, meaning that any choreography in a different configuration was welcomed. A definite standout dance was Skyfall, a number centred around Cole’s partner Faye Huddleston. There were comments made about the cramped stage – which, while it did look small, didn’t seem to phase the dancers, who gave the illusion of more space. The set was used simply but effectively; it was nice to be able to see the band, particularly the boys playing the brass instruments, who seemed to be having fun throughout the whole show. The costumes were nothing extraordinary; they delivered exactly what you would expect from the genre.

The scripted humour between dances and songs came across clunky and awkward, which was made even more obvious by the improvised dialogue that was actually funny. The banter around Strictly Come Dancing fell on flat ears with this reviewer, but was well received by other members of the audience. It was nice to break up the dances with songs and discussion, and there was no doubt as to the talent of the singers and musicians. Although the singing of Defying Gravity by Jenna Lee-James was well executed, the song choice just had me wanting to be sitting watching Wicked instead of this show.

Any fan of Brendan Cole and the TV competition which made his name would enjoy All Night Long, as this is the tour’s main focus. Indeed, the audience seemed to have a great time, and the dancing worked to create a lively and colourful atmosphere.

Manisha Sondhi

Brendan Cole: All Night Long is touring the UK until 21^st November 2018. For further information or to book visit the website here.