Captures the Heart and Magic of Ireland...

Monday, 03 October 2011 16:32

News.scotsman.com

Review: Essence of Ireland , Edinburgh Playhouse, Greenside Place

Published Date: 29 September 2011
By STEFANIE PRYKE
Essence of Ireland
Edinburgh Playhouse, Greenside Place
***

FORGET everything you thought you knew about Celtic dance. Essence of Ireland excels in mixing both traditional and contemporary Irish dance and music with a charming story narrated between the choreography.

The story of Sean Dempsey and Coro Mcowen is told through the letters that Dempsey sends home to Ireland after moving to America in search of work.

But this is no ordinary tale of love and it soon becomes clear that the stage story is not necessarily about the love of a man and woman, rather a man and his homeland.

All this is brought to life in hypnotic routines which are flawlessly executed.

From tap to salsa, each dance adds to the story and then enhances the unfolding tale.

One routine in particular demonstrates the diversity of the styles on display when brushes and dustbin lids are utilised in a piece which finds the dancers cleaning the streets of New York City.

Midway through the performance, the Edinburgh-based Ward School of Irish Dance is introduced, the young dancers showcasing their skills and proving that they are well on the way to becoming as talented as the professionals.

With a running time of two hours, the stamina of the company is impressive, but Essence of Ireland is not just about the dancing, as the music and vocal numbers tell a large part of the story, too.

The band, comprising drums, acoustic guitars, keyboards, a violin, tin whistle and an accordion, add an enchanting backing to the songs.

There's even a particularly fun mash-up of recent Irish songs featuring The Corrs, Boyzone, B*Witched, Snow Patrol, D:Ream and The Script, and a beautiful rendition of the very popular You Raise Me Up.

If there is a flaw in this production, it is that occasionally the story gets lost in the excitement and colour of the performances.

Overall however, the production captures the heart and magic of Ireland, as it surely intended.