Remembering the Oscars ★★★★ (online) | Mar 27 - Apr 17, 2021


Remembering the Oscars is a spectacularly presented dance show which resembles a lavish box of chocolates where each individual bonbon melts on the tongue, but one must take care not to overindulge. At just one hour they have got it about right with just enough different flavours to excite the palate. After an introductory montage which whisks us through about a dozen songs from Oscar winning films in double quick time, we arrive at the show proper. Aljaž Škorjanec and Janette Manrara dance with tremendous style and pizzazz and are seen to great advantage in several beautiful duets choreographed by Gareth Walker. Sequences from Evita, Chicago and All That Jazz stand out and include excellent use of a dancing ensemble. Vocalists Janine Johnson and Giovanni Spanó sing expressively and enhance the musical textures. Highlights of the show include a smouldering tango from Scent of a Woman which brings a little welcome spice to the proceedings. The show is backed by specially chosen projections which occasionally overpower the dancers, and some of the editing feels a little jagged; however, the dancing makes everything worthwhile. Numbers from Disney films dominate the second half of the show with many of the big favourites featured. One outstanding piece is the vibrant "Friend Like Me" from Aladdin, and the sequence of songs from Mary Poppins which closes the show has great rumbustious verve. Dance is an especially expressive and joyous medium and, hopefully, it makes this show's laudable aim of “propelling us towards a better future” achievable.

Rated: ★★★★

Reviewed by D.S.J.
Photo by Ryan X Howard.

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