Reviewed by Lauren at De Montfort Hall
Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review
They say you learn something new every day. I certainly didn’t think that this Saturday night I’d be learning about Craig Revel Horwood’s history with the recorder, or his love/hate relationship with peanut butter, but here we are!
It might surprise people to hear this, but there really is more to Craig Revel Horwood than his iconic twenty-year stint as the ‘mean’ judge on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing. Taking to the stage of Leicester’s De Montfort Hall, Craig and his musical director and long-time friend Ben Goddard, gave us a show that blended singing, silliness, storytelling and…cookies?
Not only does Craig have a ‘gorgeous’ singing voice, he’s had an extensive career in entertainment, training in several instruments during his time at an Australian all boys school, before by chance taking a jazz-ballet exercise class, which sparked a life long love of dance. As a musical theatre enthusiast myself, I found it fascinating to learn about Craig’s impressive list of West End and international credits, including roles in Cats, Miss Saigon, Annie, and Crazy for You. He’s also taken on numerous pantomime villain roles over the years (oh yes he has!), showcasing the breadth of his experience on stage.
Craig’s anecdotes were interspersed with songs from his debutalbum, Revelations – Songs Boys Don’t Sing, and while the setlist included classic ballads and musical theatre crowd favourites such as Poor Unfortunate Souls, Memories and This is Me, the overall experience felt somewhat underwhelming. The audience was noticeably sparse, which affected the atmosphere, despite Craig’s professionalism in performing as though to a packed house. His infectious smile and charm carried many moments, but the show never quite reached the energy expected of it.
The night took an emotional turn when Craig performed Somewhere Over The Rainbow in a moving tribute to The Vivienne. Having shared the role of The Wicked Witch of The West with The Vivienne on The Wizard of Oz (UK & Ireland Tour/London Palladium 2023). It was lovely to hear Craig’s memories of The Vivienne and gain a glimpse of the special friendship they shared.
The mood became humorous once more when Craig opened the floor up to questions from the audience, and then became serious again at the finale of the show, when Craig opened up to us about his father’s struggles with alcoholism. Talking more openly about alcoholism and the way it affects people and their families is something Craig feels very passionately about.
Both encores felt somewhat disjointed, and the closing note of Craig’s words to Chris McCausland before the final of Strictly 2024 felt unrelated and almost a strange choice to end on.
There’s no denying Craig’s experience or stage presence, but this particular performance lacked the spark one might expect from a seasoned performer of his calibre. While fans of Strictly or musical theatre may still find value in the behind-the-scenes glimpses, it may not have broad enough appeal to fully engage a general audience.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
You can catch Craig on tour all over the UK until the end of June! Full tour dates and booking information can be found at https://www.craigrevelhorwood.com/
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