Sunday, September 15, 2013

Forever Tango - Review

Forever Tango is completing its current run on Broadway tonight. The limited engagement brought the show back to New York City for the first time in many years.

This is a must see show. It captures the spirit of Argentine Tango in a wonderful mix of music, dance, song, and spirit. The format of the show is basically an alternation of music only numbers, performed by the small on-stage orchestra, and dances performed in front of and to the music of this orchestra. Much of the music is arrangements of pieces by Astor Piazzolla, one of the great tango composers.

In the current staging, this pattern was punctuated by one song and one comic dance number in each act. There are also a number of more balletic performances that involve over the head lifts and other athleticism by both the male and female performers.

While impressive, these modern riffs on Argentine Tango only showed how powerful the real thing can be. Marcela Duran, in particular, was spectacular. It was a pleasure to see her after the show interacting with fans outside the stage door of the Walter Kerr Theater on 48th Street.

Sit where you can see all the footwork. Tango has some of the most explosive and flashing footwork of any dance.

The on-stage orchestra was unnecessarily miked. The reult was that the clicking keys of the bandoneon were as loud as the music.

Overall, a great experience. See it if you can!

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