 |
At the River Rock Casino until June 11
By Deb Martin - special for GungHaggisFatChoy.com
I must admit that half the reason I went to see this show was to see the new theatre at the casino. I wanted to see how people with real money build a performance facility. I was impressed with the design. The house holds 1022 people, but felt much cozier, and I doubt there is a bad seat in it. I am always happier when I am close enough to see the expressions on the performers faces and the details in the costumes. Part of the seating can also be dropped to create a larger floor area for cabaret style dinner theatre.
It was apparent from the first number that this was not opening night for this troupe of dancers. The performance was tight, polished and very well rehearsed. It just got better after that. In a conversation with some of the dancers after the show we were able to determine that the group of about 60 performers had been on the road traveling the world with the show for two years. All but 10 were Turkish, and a lack of Turkish on my part put an end to further questions. The other 10 were Russian.
These dancers are eye-candy for both genders, and very skilled in all genres of dance, from folk to modern to ballet. The level of fitness required to perform this show is astounding. You can excuse the hokey story of Pandora and Prometheus that ties the numbers together – it’s merely marketing to draw an audience. I doubt a show called “Turkish-Arabic Folk Dancing” would sell. The story also creates opportunities for solo dancers to be showcased. The real spectacle is the phenomenal group dances with colorful and creative costumes. The show-stopper is a number with just the men in a line at the front of the stage.
The running time was just over an hour, and I gather the show can be expanded in time and the number of dancers adjusted to suit the stage. I can compare it to the shows I saw while holidaying in Mexico at a resort that has evening entertainment. My friend also says it compares to cruise ship entertainment with a minimum of sets and projections used as backdrops and scenery. We will overlook the canned music that was just this side of acceptable for sound quality. This was the one disappointment of the new theatre.
See
Night of the Sultans official website
Night of the Sultans - review by Alex Varty, Georgia Straight
