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Pictures: David Lindsay Choreomania Birmingham Hippodrome **** Theatre has seen some strange plots over the years but a town's population suffering a dancing disease epidemic where people start manically dancing, without music, and dance, on and on and just can't stop until they drop, or even die? Come on, no one is that weird . . . Except, not only is it unbelievable and totally bizarre, but it is true. Choreomania, which is also known as the dancing plague or St. Vitus’ Dance, was a phenomenon in parts of Europe in the 14th and 15th centuries with one of the most famous and best documented occurrences taking place in Strasbourg for two months or so around August 1518. So, 507 years on and British Youth Music Theatre take us back to Strasbourg, which is now in France, but then was a free imperial city in the Holy Roman Empire. The young ensemble, 36 strong, set the scene in operatic style. The city was already suffering after crop failures, and sky-high grain prices had brought famine, and, just to add to the misery historically, the city was also suffering from outbreaks of the return of diseases such as leprosy and bubonic plague. The young cast gave us misery in spades with shops closing – why open when there is nothing to sell? – and dancing into the depths of despair comes Anna Troffea, played delightfully – and with commendable stamina – by Abigail Silverlock, who dances manically, rapidly and energetically for much of the show in a wonderful performance. Historically her fate is uncertain. Here she follows one of the theories of her fate and dies leaving her husband Pierre a sad figure, having seen his wife dance herself to death. Played by Ben Harcourt, he has one of the shows musical highlights, a love song to the wife he has lost to the dancing plague. More and more citizens join the dancing hysteria while the church under Father Johan, played by Isabelle Larrey, see the dance phenomena as an asset, or, to be more accurate, a money-making opportunity, labelling the dancing a punishment from God requiring mass confessions and, if not quite indulgencies from a starving people, at least a sin tax.
Abigail Silverlock as Anna Troffea and Ben Harcourt as husband Pierre Johan is challenged by Father Friedrich, played by Alex Viveash, who comes up with the novel idea that the church is there to help the people not to make money out of them. The passage of time and perhaps calling on the help of St. Vitus saw the epidemic of dancing subside and eventually die out. St Vitus being the patron saint of saint of dancers . . . as well as actors, comedians and entertainers, and just to fill his idle moments, he also took on the role for nervous disorders and epilepsy. As to why the epidemic started? We are left with only theories and speculation. Amanda Mascarenhas's set is a bleak affair, boarded up shops with depressing notices with a second storey to provide both an elevated stage and a home for the five-piece band. The ensemble brings Evie Press's book and lyrics to life, with the score from musical director Evie Atkin giving us a mx of styles from operatic along with hints of mediaeval mixed in with electronic dance music and techno. It's a mix which adds interest to Myles Brown’s choreography which becomes mesmerising as it spreads among the possessed dancers, one minute we are in Renaissance Strasbourg, the next its strobe lighting, Balearic beat, and we could be clubbing in Ibiza. When the cast find themselves in competition with the band though, there is a problem and on opening night it was an unbalanced affair, especially the insistent booming bass. The music in general, while interesting and helping to carry the story along, was often the most dominant feature of a scene, often drowning out weaker voices or dialogue. On Press night it was intrusive and distracting, less volume would make the music far more effective. That being said there was some fine talent on show from a cast which gave us a polished performance. It is a little-known event in history, a difficult one to portray, but they managed it , and we now know where the term St. Vitus Dance comes from. Directed by Denzel Westley-Sanderson the dance will go on to 31-08-25. Roger Clarke 29-08-25 |
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