Strictly Ballroom

The cast of Strictly Ballroom The Musical performing Time After Time - photo by Johan Persson.

Strictly Ballroom: the musical

I am a massive fan of the film 'Strictly Ballroom' so was very excited when I heard that the director was working on a musical for the stage so booked up as soon as it  hit the West End. I was not disappointed.

The core story of the film is still there, the sweet romance, the breaking free of the conventions and the comedy parents so film fans will not be disappointed. We had an understudy for Scott Hastings the main protagonist and Dale White did not disappoint, stepping in to both the role and the solo choreography effortlessly. The performances of the acting performers was great with Stephen Matthews as the father doing great work with his small part. I found Anna Francolini and Lauren Stroud a little over the top for me but they pulled it off and the audience loved it.

The dancing was amazing! I am more familiar with ballet/modern dance so it was a real treat to see a different style of dance. Drew McOnie has really created a great visual and athletic style that is amazing to watch but is recognisable to Strictly Come Dancing fans and to those who know the film. Fran's family scenes have been extended and Ivan De Freitas as Fran's father, Merv really shows his skill as an actor and especially as a dancer commanding the scene and holding the audience spellbound.

A special mention for Will Young who sings all the songs live and pull off his Australian accent. He interacts with audience with ease and is on stage all the time which must be tiring but he kept the energy up.

I think my only criticism is that the stage seemed busy with both the live band and large bits of sets always on stage which seemed like it might restrict the dancers a little, even that they had to come on in different ways but it seemed to work and I am sure everyone whats a bigger stage!

The theatre itself is lovely with plenty of toilets and 'at seat service' but the Stalls has the same problem as alot of theatres do in that it doesn't stagger the seats so you can't always see. A great experience and worth a visit.

Mary Magdalene

Copyright Universal Pictures International

Mary Magdalene

I thought it was important to write about this film as a female Christian because it was probably the first time I have seen my own experience of being a Christian on screen. 

Like many people I read the reviews and while lukewarm at best I thought it would be a nice introduction to Easter so went along and came out deeply moved. This was a female centric view of Jesus and the early church. It was moving and real and for once I felt reflected my experience of being a woman in the church. I would encourage any female Christian to go see this film.

Firstly you should be aware that this film was Executive Produced by Harvey Weinstein and stars Joaquin Phoenix who while not accused himself, was involved in a Film were Casey Affleck was accused of sexual harassment. I wanted to make you aware of this.

The film opens with a lovely sequence of 'busy nothings' Mary and her sister fishing for shellfish and then preparing them. They rush to help their Sister in Law who is having a difficult birth. While the house is busy with men the focus is on the women and their activity. Later one of the women jokes "It must be nice to have free time." after seeing all the men go off to hear Jesus speak. I have to admit I have experienced and watch women working hard in the Church to make things easy for others while not getting to hear the teaching themselves/ myself. As a woman you are always asked "Are you a Mary or Martha?" (The other Mary who anoints Jesus' feet). It is not always possible to be a 'Mary'.

Clothing is important. Mary and her sister are freer in their clothing as they are around their family and working,later we see Mary is restricted due to being around non family members except with Jesus. Just a little thing but I liked the visual that with Jesus she was with family and could be herself.

We first get a glimpse that Mary seeks more when she is told she is to be married to a local man and she runs to the temple for guidance and finds only censure from the men especially her father who asks for honesty and when given it assumes she is possessed and has her dunked in the local river in a violent exorcise that nearly goes wrong. She is punished for being truthful, for admitting doubts about the life she is expected to live. For seeking more, stating she wants to know God.

As you can imagine things are a little bit tense at home as Mary feels the burden of  not being acceptable to her family but not knowing how to change. It takes Jesus coming to heal her to make her see that there is another path. She joins the disciples. Jesus treats her like an equal and the disciples to some extent too. I like that the disciples were all races and ages. It shows how rag tag they must have been. They are shown to be much more focused on Jesus being a King on Earth not a Heavenly king which leads them into conflict.

Mary helps Jesus to see that women need to approached differently, that society prevents them from being in the same spaces as men so he goes to them. Some of the best exchanges are when he speaks to women who express their anger and resentment at being oppressed. As in the Bible were the best and most insightful sections are Jesus speaking to or interacting with women (the woman by the well) this really shows how important the women are to his teaching.

We also meet Mary, Mother of Jesus and she gets to tell her story. The burden of knowing your son with die and never truly having him. It is a beautiful moment and I am sure one that many have felt when their child has been called to serve.

The film is also very explicit that it is Mary who is 'The Apostle of apostle" telling the disciples of Jesus' resurrection and later she is seen leading the women of the early church. This is very true as women were often the first converts in households and big supports of the church (there even seems to be evidence they were worship leaders). 

I loved that this film had a fresh perspective on the Gospel story and that is what made it a worth while and revealatory film that should engage and support any female christian this Easter time.

This film also highlights the importance of having women (and BAME) reviewers in mainstream media as it got decidedly lukewarm reviews but they were all written by white men and I wonder if that is why they didn't appreciate this film as much.