‘Zorro’ is hot stuff. And I’m not just talking about the sweaty effects of a giant flaming ‘Z’ in a non air-conditioned theatre. The rousing a capellas, where a gipsy chorus stamps, claps and chair-dances its riposte to the cruel Spanish colonists, are stupendous. There’s no doubt that the rumba flamenco score, with hits ‘Bamboleo’ and ‘Djobi Djoba’ and other music provided by the Gipsy Kings, is volcanic in comparison to the lukewarm wank that passes for music on many West End stages.
Unfortunately, ‘Zorro’ is not entirely free of the latter. And the main love plot between fun-loving hero Diego (a Robin Hood for nineteenth-century Spanish-occupied California) and his maid Luisa (the plucky childhood sweetheart who drags him back to defend the oppressed) gets its ardour a bit dampened by vague motivational lyrics and banal tunes.
That caveat aside, it’s a pleasure to see such a lot of magnificent old swash and buckle swinging, masked, from the rafters of the Garrick. The script is spot-on: dashing, funny, and full of self-deprecatingly camp bravado. And Lesli Margherita who plays Inez (Diego’s tough-talking gipsy ex-girlfriend) is a treat, from the tip of her magnificent barnet to the bottom of her sexy, mournful alto voice. Adam Levy plays the villainous Ramon with the caressing pauses and conflicted cruelty of a young, good-looking Alan Rickman. And Rafael Amargo’s choreography is raw and visceral: the show is stolen by the women – sometimes gipsy storytellers full of reckless sorrow, sometimes the wives of condemned villagers – who straddle their chairs, stamp and sing until you long to believe that the masked hero they’ve adopted is worthy of them.
I must admit I didn't have very high expectations on the night that I went to see Zorro. However, 5 minutes into the beginning, I was completely taken in. The songs are brilliant and the dancing is superb! Some really ace comedy moments aswell! Zorro truely is a must see for everybody!
Went to see the Show knowing nothing about it and it was superb both acting and technical. A must for anyone to see even if you dont know what its about. Come on everybody keep live theatre going by seeing shows etc that you may not know anything about them
4 comments
I must admit I didn't have very high expectations on the night that I went to see Zorro. However, 5 minutes into the beginning, I was completely taken in. The songs are brilliant and the dancing is superb! Some really ace comedy moments aswell! Zorro truely is a must see for everybody!
Went to see on a whim, loved it! Great fun, wonderful song and dance and the sword play was a bonus! Definitely worth the time!
Went to see the Show knowing nothing about it and it was superb both acting and technical. A must for anyone to see even if you dont know what its about. Come on everybody keep live theatre going by seeing shows etc that you may not know anything about them
Great Show - a must see - the music and performances are outstanding!