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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
Our Last Dance, Dave
Verdict: Bittersweet comedy of dance
London - Canal Café - Oct/Nov 03
What's white and slithers across dance-floors? Yes, news that Come Dancing is about to return to national tv heralds the resurrection of many a pensionable joke. But how better to greet this glad news than with a new play celebrating all that's risible - and touching - about sport's best-dressed contact entertainment?
It's Smeaton's 79th Annual All County SingDance Championship 2003, and reigning champions Tina Pea & Dave Ducks are up for their 8th consecutive win. But will it be the grand finale for Tina & Dave - professionally, and as friends? Andrea Donovan's new romantic comedy drama Our Last Dance, Dave inspects the end of the line.
Tina Pea has ambitions, and a loose recollection of her advancing age. Dance partner Dave Ducks wants to shake off the shackles of a 15-year partnership and go solo. Bobby Molan's already achieved solo champion status after dissolving his partnership with Chella Bucket and becoming gay. Dave's leaning towards some of the same. Tina and Bobby have a history together, too. As Nick Knightstick
Russell Mudstuffin commentate breathlessly in the background, can Dave & Tina stick together long enough to scoop a last win, especially now that David de Donally and April War have bowed out - literally, due to April's defective groin?
Our Last Dance, Dave features a stunning performance from Andrea Donovan as Tina Pea. Her elegance of dance and movement, and her magnificent range of facial expressions capture the poignancy and humour of the part. Glynn Read (Dave Ducks) delivers a fine piece of characterisation as a man tiring of the past, and yearning for the promise of the future. Dan Fox skilfully and convincingly exposes the falsity of Bobby Molan, his ambition, selfishness and vulnerability.
Writer/Director Andrea Donovan has looked previously - We Are S.A.D. - with wit and understanding at the seedy edges of the entertainment world. Here, she shows considerable courage in presenting 'the big scene' - the actual dance performances - both at the beginning and end of the drama. Both come off excellently, thanks to the talented performances of Andrea Donovan and Glynn Reed, and provide a heightened poignancy to what occurs in between.
Our Last Dance, Dave runs for around 45 minutes. It's short, and well-constructed - a light entertainment with a gentle, perceptive and bittersweet look at the way we love.
Cast Credits (alpha order): Andrea Donovan (Tina Pea), Dan Fox (Bobby Molan)
Glynn Reed (Dave Ducks). Voice-overs: Jim Johnson (Nick Knightstick). James Ritchie (Russell Mudstuffin).
Company Credits: Technical Manager - Ross McGivern. Writer/Director - Andrea Donovan. Company: Matt's Little Sister.
Venue Credits: The Bridge House - Manager - Francesca Fanizzi. Canal Café Theatre: Administration - Louis Brownhill. Artistic Director - Emma Taylor.
END
John Park
reviewed Thursday 23 October 03 / Canal Café Theatre
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012
www.fringereport.com
