Puttin’ On The Ritz

The Brits have an obsession with the BBC TVs Strictly Come Dancing bordering on the fanatical. Apart from becoming an institution that’s revered as much as the Royal Family, it’s also in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s most successful TV show of its kind. Puttin’ On the Ritz, a song-and-dance stage spin-off of the series, has been touring the UK for years and began its first Australian tour yesterday at QPAC’s Concert Hall. If you like sequins, spangles and loads of bling then this show’s for you.

Against a deep-blue backdrop studded with twinkly stars, accompanied by a pre-recorded big-band, 10 dancers and 6 singers effortlessly sang and danced their way through the songs of Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and George Gershwin with some side excursions into the songbooks of Harold Arlen, Fats Waller and Hugh Martin. Recreating the eras of the twenties and forties, Harlem’s Cotton Club, and Sinatra’s Rat-Pack, they did everything from a Charleston to a waltz (with plenty of tap thrown in for good measure) in costumes that looked like they had come straight out of the MGM wardrobe.

They opened with a flashy “There’s No Business like Show Business”, did a mean “Minnie the Moocher” and brought back Judy Garland memories with “The Trolley Song” and “Over the Rainbow”. Fred Astaire was well-represented by a lively “The Continental” and a suave “Top Hat, White Tie, and Tails”.

Rob Mills was a popular guest artist, repeating his wistful version of “Mr Bojangles” from Swing on This; had the hall rocking with a big-band arrangement of Sinatra’s “That’s Life” and charmed his way through “On the Street Where You Live” from My Fair Lady.

One of the best moments was the finale, with the full-cast doing a sit-down hand-jive complete with Mexican wave on the edge of the stage that had the audience whooping for more. It was old-fashioned entertainment but hugely enjoyable.

Peter Pinne

Following Brisbane “Puttin’ on the Ritz” plays dates in NSW, Victoria and WA.