I’m glad to have finally seen ‘The Car Man’ as it is a sight to see!
‘The Car Man’ is sexy, sultry and very dramatic. The show literally ropes you in in the first five minutes where we get to see about a dozen men take their clothes off to shower – and from then the show kicks off!
The first production of Mathew Bourne’s dance sensation was back in 2000 at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth and then transferred to London’s Old Vic. And it has come and gone, most recently at Sadlers Wells in 2015. It’s now back on one of the famous stages in London – Royal Albert Hall – and it’s not to be missed!
Blending in romance, violence, skin – lots of skin – the show is a nod to the dark and erotic film noirs of the 1950’s and 1960’s with lots of dancing, and lots (over 30) of performers, in a show that’s a take on ‘Carmen.’
We are in a diner in an Italian American city called Harmony in the 1960’s. A stranger arrives into town who takes a job as a mechanic hence the title of the show. His arrival affects everyone in town, where the rest of the story is beautifully told through dance and via a well-tuned orchestra led by Brett Morris in a show that also has touches of ‘West Side Story.’ There is dancing everywhere on stage – it’s hard to take it all in – but the dancers manage it all beautifully, all they way through to the compelling climax.
Music is composed by Terry Davies in a show brought to us by the comparable Sir Matthew Bourne.
It’s a thrilling show with an excellent score and an emotionally dramatic storyline. I want to see it again!
For tickets, please go to: www.royalalberthall.com/
Review by Tim Baros