The scene was set in a dark cellar with musical instruments in the background. The curtain raiser which began the evening, featured local dancers from Preston, Blackpool and Wyre with whom the David Hughes Dance Company - in particular David Hughes and Alan Grieg - have been working. This was choreographed by David Hughes during workshops on 20th and 21st October as part of the Dance Residency at the Grand Theatre and demonstrated that David is well on his way to becoming known for a wide variety of different styles in dance as the five dancers treated us to a tableau of contemporary dance more gymnastic and yoga-like than traditional ballet. The dancers - with 'street clothes' and bare feet - danced their body poetry with panache. Then, one by one, the other dancers came onto the stage, the curtain raising dancers left and the tale began in earnest - a rock band rehearsing and recording an album in a cellar.
This is a fusion of contemporary dance and music with sensational results, breaking new ground with complex moves and an entirely believable story of the band called 'I love Sarah' played by Belgian rock duo Jeroen Stevens and 'Rutger ~De Brabander. The fusion of music and movement is fascinating and raises questions - which came first the music or the movement?
There were several comedy moments - first an excitable, vociferous Irishman supposedly following the band around - who noisily entered the auditorium and then prodeeded to sit in different seats, try to find programmes, etc. Then the curtain raising dancers left the stage by the steps and joined the audience. By this time the band were in full swing and a sofa was placed on the stage. This was the Irishman's cue to join the band on the stage and 'gatecrash' their session. (We weren't fooled - we guessed he was part of the performance.) Then the story began and the dancers dived and gyrated to the rythm of the music, demonstrating the chaotic lifestyle of a successful rock band - beer (a whole crate of it - part of the props) and who knows what else, alluded to with clever use of lighting and props. But though this all appears random it is definitely not and has clearly been very carefully choreographed - brilliant work by Kylie Walters with David Hughes as the Creative Producer and Matt Foster as Associate Director - each dancer using his whole body with flowing movment.
Then a pizza delivery boy arrives from the back of the auditorium and ends up on stage as one of the dancers. It was clever the way Blackpool was woven into the story - Funny Girls, the Pleasure Beach, Blackpool rock and life in Blackpool in general were all mentioned during the verbal exchanges that took place - with the Irishman and then later with an interviewer (from Radio Wave perhaps) who spoke to the drummer about I love Sarah. The drummer mentioned that the stage of the Grand Theatre slopes down towards the autitorium (Friends of the Grand and anyone who has done a tour of Blackpool's beautiful Theatre will know that), whereupon he rolled down it, saying there's no need to go to the Pleasure Beach!
First the drummer then the whole stage disappeared in a haze of red smoke - the lighting was superb - and the lads are obviously a little the worse for alcohol, etc. A comatose body is dragged on to the stage and he finished up on the sofa, waking to wreck the room and try to put out a fire with a fire extinguisher. Then, obviously suffering from a massive hangover he jumps and dives from the sofa to the matress and back again - everything appearing to be randomly placed but a lot of hard work and rehearsing has gone into the performance to make it so slick and professional.
The dancing becomes wilder as the alcohol flows, reaches a crescendo and then slows down, finishing with a fountain - now that was a surprise.
A wonderfully inspiring evening. Our thanks as always to all the staff at the Grand Theatre - especially those behind the scenes - to the sound engineer, the lighting engineer and of course to the artists, musicians and chorographer and all members of the David Hughes Dance Company.
They are going on tour but they will be back at the Grand. Hurray!
For more tour dates, have a look here: www.davidhughesdance.co.uk
To find out what else is coming up at the Grand Theatre, click here: www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk
