Magic Mike Live

Be prepared for plenty of groin thrusting dance moves, jaw-dropping aerial routines and a whole lot of surprises at Magic Mike Live!

This show is a male review reimagined for 21^st century audiences. I loved that they put a woman in charge! The MC, played by Alexia Brinsley and Amy Ingram on alternating shows, has the bevy of buff dancers at their beck and call and they certainly put these men to work! For the full 90 minutes of the show, they’re dancing all over the place, have dozens of costume changes (counting when they take their shirts off on stage) and they perform 10 shows a week.

The cast features some of Australia’s best male commercial dancers, who also occasionally sing or play musical instruments, as well as great international talent. Ned Zaina is a stand-out, showing off his classical training with perfect pirouettes, getting saucy in the salsa routine and displaying immense athletic ability during the acrobatic elements of the show. He was even gracious enough to come and chat with the audience after the premiere. Definitely a rising star!

The plot and character development are a bit half-hearted. “Mike” is a waiter who gets plucked from the rest to go on a transformative journey that ultimately leads him to be really good in bed. His story climaxes (pardon the pun) when he pulls a “random” woman out of the audience and they engage in a very artistic love scene. Not exactly a hero’s journey; it might have been nice if Mike was pursuing someone specifically. But let’s be honest, we’re not going to see Magic Mike Live for the storyline.

It’s an immersive experience full of humour, cheek (verbal and physical) and indulgence. The venue and cast provide a feast for the eyes, while drinks and nibbles are available for delivery to your table throughout the show. Groove along in your seat to hit songs like Ginuwine’s “Pony” and wait for that enchanted moment when one of the cast members might throw a wink or a smile your way.

Gentlemen, take note: men who can dance are sexy! In the vein of Paul Mercurio in Strictly Ballroom, Michael Flatley in Lord of the Dance and the Tap Dogs, hopefully Magic Mike Live goes some way to debunking the perception that a man’s ability to dance detracts from his masculinity. As this show proves by rolling in crowds of screaming fans six nights a week, it’s quite the opposite.

Sophia Dickinson

Photographer: Peter Brew-Bevan

https://magicmikelive.com.au/