“A glamorous cabaret ceilidh full of heart and crowd pleasing talent”
Like a tiny pendant on a necklace, the Emerald Theatre is the perfect venue for such a jewel of a show. Emerald Storm comes from successful performer-producer Adam Garcia, blending tapdance with Irish dance into a supper club party almost fit for the modern era.
This cabaret show is all about making you feel uplifted through a series of variety show vignettes showcasing the performers’ skills, including music, dance and comedy all meshed together for a genuinely enjoyable night out.
The two revelations here are principal dancers Bayley Graham and Olivia Graydon. Graham is Gene Kelly reincarnate; a fusion of furiously flawless tap rhythm and a stage presence so charismatic he could probably charm world peace into effect. Graydon’s Irish dance skills demonstrate strength, agility, speed and passion. She leads every scene with magnetism and a kickass green satin sash, commanding attention whenever she performs.
Collectively the cast is hypnotic- they dance with energy and zeal- it truly is a joy to watch them. Every single cast member looks like they are having the time of their life and that carries the atmosphere throughout the audience- the crowd equally enjoying themselves. Singer Tom Ball croons his way through classics including Whiskey in the Jar and an unsettlingly jaunty Fields of Athenry. His velvety voice is very much suited to proceedings, adding a touch of old-world glamour and skill.
The show however is not perfect, and I disliked the fact there was no female soloist equivalent to Tom Ball. Instead, Tom is given a troupe of female backing singers who I’m not sure really add to the proceedings simply because there are so many of them that their harmonsing gets a little lost in the mix. Aesthetically, I think they were going for mysterious Celtic spell casters in their long black cloaks, but in reality they pop up out of nowhere like a choir of Macbeth’s Weird Sisters then slink back into the shadows.
The only other aspect I feel holds this show back from its full potential is the reliance on its previous success as a cruise ship show. It is evident from the safe mid-noughties popsong choices, smooth jazz and classic hits rather than modern boundary pushing genres to match the youth and energy of its cast. It feels like a security blanket but London audiences are diverse and expect more risks than that. An easy win, for example would be for a different MC in every city or region- imagine the variety you would get without having to actually change the core of the show’s concept. The live trio at the beginning, Fiddlin’ About are fun and it would be great for them to have been given more to do, as otherwise the show relies on pre-recorded backing tracks or Tom Ball’s excellent vocals.
Ultimately this show is clearly a wholesome crowd pleaser, which is no mean feat given the diverse age rage of the audience on gala night. Whilst I personally would prefer more boundary pushing musical elements, the cast remains its strongest asset. The enthusiasm and delight emanating from them is infectious; they are clearly all afforded a sense of individuality to their choreography, meaning personality pleasantly overrides the need for rigid precision. In fact it could be said that the mop steals the show as the most charming character. Yes you read that right. Come see Emerald Storm – where even the props have charisma.