The Car Man Review

Rating (out of 5)
4
Show details
Company
New Adventures in association with Sadler's Wells
Production
Mathew Bourne (director, choreographer), Music (Terry Davies), Lez Brotherston (Set and Costume Design), Chris Davey (Lighting Designer), Paul Groothuis (Sound Design), Etta Murfitt (Associate Director)

The Car Man is one of the most exciting pieces of dance touring Britain at present. Choreographed by Mathew Bourne, who shot to fame in 1995 with his all male production of Swan Lake, The Car Man oozes sensuality, energy and eroticism.

Described as Bizet's Carmen re-imagined, The Car Man incorporates all the emotions brought into
play in the opera - lust, passion, revenge and murder - but tells
a different story.

Set in the early 1960s in an Italian/American
mid-West, fictionalised, small American town called, ironically,
Harmony, this "dance thriller" revolves a group of mechanics
working in a garage.

With a spectacular, almost filmic set -
designed by Lez Brotherston - the show begins at a frenetic pace as
the group of mechanics display unbridled sexuality in an attempt to
‘pull' the ladies. Their routine however is rudely interrupted
by the arrival of a stranger, Luca, whose actions ultimately disrupt
the community for ever.

Music is a vital, integral part of The
Car Man and the composer Terry Davies, working with Bizet's score
as well as Rodion Shchedrin's Carmen Suite, has successfully
adapted the music to suit the contemporary explosive mood of the
piece.

Directed and choreographed in Mathew
Bourne's unique, innovative way, the dancers physical and acting
skills are superlative as they enact the passion and pathos of this
ultimately tragic tale. In particular, Michela Meazza as Lana; James
Leece as Luca and Richard Winsor as Angelo are outstanding.

Show runs Tue 30 October - Sat 3 November 2007 and then moves to The Lowry, Salford and the Birmingham Hippodrome