Murder on the Dance Floor, The Pleasance Theatre - ★★★★★ - Until October 13, 2019


Terrific high energy characterises this impressive and excellently performed story of five young people sharing a house and arguing over money with eventual shocking consequences. Author/director Ollie Norton-Smith's plot is strangely reminiscent of Galsworthy's novels and other early twentieth-century “inheritance” dramas, but with a very modern spin. With his choreographer, Zak Nemorin, he certainly stretches the physical powers of his performers and they rise brilliantly to the demands. With mesmeric stage presence and a beautiful voice Phoebe Campbell stands out, producing an enormous range of emotions. The others in the cast, Alex Holley, Hamish Lloyd Barnes, Tullio Campanale and Francesca Thompson, also shine. Tullio managed to switch very effectively from the young house-mate to the rather pompous father. Every moment they are on stage the cast is concentrating and waiting for the next intricate piece of movement. Oscar Maguire's soundscape is pin-point accurate and always entirely appropriate. The hand-held lamps are cleverly used and at times create a wonderful feeling of Gothic horror. Presented by Spies Like Us and Pleasance Futures, this young company certainly demonstrates that it is a force to be reckoned with in this extremely high-octane tour-de-force which left the audience almost as breathless as the cast.

 Reviewed by D.S.J.

  Our Score:  ☆☆☆☆☆ 

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 WHEN, WHERE, GETTING THERE:
Until October 13, 2019
Tue - Sat: 7 pm, Sun: 5:30 pm
The Pleasance Theatre
Nearest tube: Caledonian Road
https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/murder-dancefloor-0#overview
Map & Location: Carpenters Mews, North Road, London N7 9EF, UK

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