REVIEW
Aljaž and Janette
Remembering The Oscars
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
Saturday 23rd April 2022
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
Aljaž and Janette
Remembering The Oscars
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
Saturday 23rd April 2022
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
Following on from their 2019 sell-out tour with their highly entertaining and innovative Remembering The Movies, Strictly’s favourite couple Aljaž and Janette returned to the Cliffs Pavilion, Southend on Saturday with their long-awaited brand new dance spectacular Remembering The Oscars.
Originally scheduled for Spring 2020, the tour was twice postponed due to the pandemic. Southend Theatre Scene were lucky enough to be able to watch the online stream of the show last year, filmed at the Bournemouth International Centre; an exquisite teaser for the real life performances that the Strictly couple are doing this year; however, nothing can compare to seeing them live.
Aljaž and Janette are massively popular with Strictly fans and the fact that Aljaz has recently announced that he will not be appearing in the next Strictly series must have been a key factor for the audience to be chomping at the bit to see their Strictly favourites. After an initial intro teaser, the pair appear, Aljaž first followed by Janette and the Southend audience’s delight was clearly audible with loud whoops and cheers.
The husband and wife team are supported by a talented cast of dancers and Aljaž also pairs up with Ash-Leigh Hunter and Janette with Robbie Metoni to perform some fabulous routines. The resident vocalists, Richard Woodford and Janine Johnson feature heavily in the show and Janine in particular has the most outstanding vocals. She knocked everyone sideways with her renditions of Don’t Rain on my Parade from Funny Girl and As Long As He Needs Me from Oliver.
Aljaž and Janette give the red carpet treatment to Oscar-winning songs, dances, movies and stars, including Wishing On A Star, Swinging On A Star and City of Stars - suitably apt titles for this couple to dance to. There are also lots of Disney family favourites, thanks to Janette’s self confessed love of everything Disney and we are also treated to wonderful dance routines which take us through the Golden Ages of Hollywood and Bollywood, with songs from Lady Gaga, Adele, Prince, Queen, Eminem, Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand, as well as classics from legendary songwriters such as Burt Bacharach, John Barry, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Irving Berlin and many more.
The huge LED screens that surround the stage which feature specially filmed content are an integral part of the show and give the show the glitzy pizzazz that you would expect from a real life Oscar ceremony and it feels that no expense has been spared in this department. Footage of the pair dressed as iconic stars are shown intermittently to fill costume changes, and give the rest of the cast a chance to dance and dazzle, showing off some fabulous costumes complimenting some outstanding choreography.
Originally scheduled for Spring 2020, the tour was twice postponed due to the pandemic. Southend Theatre Scene were lucky enough to be able to watch the online stream of the show last year, filmed at the Bournemouth International Centre; an exquisite teaser for the real life performances that the Strictly couple are doing this year; however, nothing can compare to seeing them live.
Aljaž and Janette are massively popular with Strictly fans and the fact that Aljaz has recently announced that he will not be appearing in the next Strictly series must have been a key factor for the audience to be chomping at the bit to see their Strictly favourites. After an initial intro teaser, the pair appear, Aljaž first followed by Janette and the Southend audience’s delight was clearly audible with loud whoops and cheers.
The husband and wife team are supported by a talented cast of dancers and Aljaž also pairs up with Ash-Leigh Hunter and Janette with Robbie Metoni to perform some fabulous routines. The resident vocalists, Richard Woodford and Janine Johnson feature heavily in the show and Janine in particular has the most outstanding vocals. She knocked everyone sideways with her renditions of Don’t Rain on my Parade from Funny Girl and As Long As He Needs Me from Oliver.
Aljaž and Janette give the red carpet treatment to Oscar-winning songs, dances, movies and stars, including Wishing On A Star, Swinging On A Star and City of Stars - suitably apt titles for this couple to dance to. There are also lots of Disney family favourites, thanks to Janette’s self confessed love of everything Disney and we are also treated to wonderful dance routines which take us through the Golden Ages of Hollywood and Bollywood, with songs from Lady Gaga, Adele, Prince, Queen, Eminem, Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand, as well as classics from legendary songwriters such as Burt Bacharach, John Barry, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Irving Berlin and many more.
The huge LED screens that surround the stage which feature specially filmed content are an integral part of the show and give the show the glitzy pizzazz that you would expect from a real life Oscar ceremony and it feels that no expense has been spared in this department. Footage of the pair dressed as iconic stars are shown intermittently to fill costume changes, and give the rest of the cast a chance to dance and dazzle, showing off some fabulous costumes complimenting some outstanding choreography.
Both Aljaž and Janette take time out to chat to the audience, introducing numbers and taking us through each Oscar category. Aljaž, it is quite clear to see, is never happier than with a microphone in his hand and takes full advantage in his ‘chatty’ bits to flirt with the audience. He is naturally funny and has the audience cracking up with his bottom wiggling and winky asides. He endearingly calls Southend, ‘Southend on the Sea’ telling us how he used to come here as a child and skip through the sand. (He didn't). He constantly has the audience in stitches and it’s not difficult to see why Janette fell in love with him - this handsome, funny, fantastic dancer and the feeling is naturally mutual, as Aljaž is constantly telling us how wonderfully talented and beautiful his wife is too. Despite their differing sizes, the pair dance so beautifully together and you can hear the audience gasping in wonder at some of the limb defying movements. Janette also gets to show off some pretty vocals in All That Jazz and in the Mary Poppins numbers.
There is a sombre moment later in the evening when Aljaž reminds us of the horrors of the Ukraine/Russian conflict and dedicates their performance to the people of Ukraine. It’s difficult not to be moved by this and it takes a while to get back into the rush of the evening’s excitement; but we do.
We are treated to jaw dropping dance routines from the music of Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, Fame, Footloose and Happy Feet and by the finale we are all up on our own 'happy' feet dancing and clapping along as if we were at the Oscars ourselves. The dedication and effort gone into this show is clearly evident and worthy of an Oscar in itself. Mind you, did you know that there hasn’t been a category for Best Choreography in a Film for over 85 years? No, me either. I think it’s about time that changed. If Oscar inspired dance shows could receive an award, this one would definitely be right up there in the nominations. Don’t miss this red carpet production. Remembering the Oscars tour continues.
Review: Kim Tobin
More info on the tour here
There is a sombre moment later in the evening when Aljaž reminds us of the horrors of the Ukraine/Russian conflict and dedicates their performance to the people of Ukraine. It’s difficult not to be moved by this and it takes a while to get back into the rush of the evening’s excitement; but we do.
We are treated to jaw dropping dance routines from the music of Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, Fame, Footloose and Happy Feet and by the finale we are all up on our own 'happy' feet dancing and clapping along as if we were at the Oscars ourselves. The dedication and effort gone into this show is clearly evident and worthy of an Oscar in itself. Mind you, did you know that there hasn’t been a category for Best Choreography in a Film for over 85 years? No, me either. I think it’s about time that changed. If Oscar inspired dance shows could receive an award, this one would definitely be right up there in the nominations. Don’t miss this red carpet production. Remembering the Oscars tour continues.
Review: Kim Tobin
More info on the tour here
