Lord Of The Dance - A Lifetime Of Standing Ovations Review by Nina Jervis-Green

October 9, 2024

Thanks to Nina Jervis from www.ninathewriter.com for this review.

On the face of it, Lord of the Dance: A Lifetime of Standing Ovations is one part pantomime, one part wrestling show. There’s a hero to root for and a villain to boo, theatrical fights and a glittering winner’s belt, and a performative style that’s more than a little bit cheesy in places.

But if all that sounds like criticism, it absolutely isn’t. This a totally unique, utterly breath-taking show that’s packed with insanely talented performers and a wonderfully warm atmosphere from start to finish.

This show originally debuted in 1996, with Michael Flatley in the lead role of Lord of the Dance. Now 66, Flatley has passed the baton to Matt Smith (not the Doctor Who actor), one of his “hand-picked successors”.

According to the show’s programme, Smith fell in love with Irish dancing as a boy of five, as he watched Flatley perform on TV. He’s now the first person other than Flatley to appear in an official Lord of the Dance show logo, and he clearly relishes every last second of the role he’s worked so hard to win. Alongside his incredible dance talent, he genuinely wants every member of the audience to have as amazing a time as he’s having himself.

That sentiment goes for everyone we see on stage. Their huge, beaming smiles are addictive – and impressive, as in most cases they’re coupled with some extremely technical dance steps! – in a way that draws you in and makes you feel part of the show.

It’s not just dancing talent on display, however. Two phenomenally gifted fiddlers, Giada Costenaro Cunningham and Helena Gullan, both play solo and accompany some of the dance numbers, while Celyn Cartwright (‘Erin the Goddess’) sings beautifully – particularly on ‘Carrickfergus’ at the start of the show.

The show’s music is composed by Gerard Fahy, who deftly combines traditional Irish melodies with a range of musical styles… and of course, there’s plenty of loud foot- tapping, along with gleeful shouts and cheers from the cast themselves as they perform.

The story centres around dreams of the ‘Little Spirit’, who’s played to sparkly perfection by Cassidy Ludwig. There’s an epic battle between good and evil: the Lord of the Dance and his nemesis, the masked, sinister Dark Lord (Connor Smyth), flanked by his troupe of Warlords. Meanwhile, Morrighan the Temptress (Olivia Allen) does her best to come between the Lord and his true love, Saoirse (Tiernagh Canning).

If all that sounds a bit confusing, don’t worry! Each number works as a self- contained mini-story all of its own; performed to an animated backdrop of beautiful rural scenes and fiery crescendos, in sensational costumes that seem to change every few moments.

Michael Flatley himself appears on video during the show: once at the start, in an ‘X Factor’-style montage that charts his course to iconic status, and again towards the end. His presence underlines the hefty amount of blood, sweat and tears it’s taken for his shows to endure all these years, and once the glorious finale has concluded the audience eagerly leaps to its feet. A ‘Lifetime of Standing Ovations’ indeed.