Review: The Car Man at Newcastle Theatre Royal
Matthew Bourne's The Car Man is definitely one to remember. Who knew ballet could be so raunchy?
The set is incredible, it has the ‘50s garage aesthetic down to a T. It reminds me of Guys and Dolls as the performers come out in swing dress and… Levi’s jeans?
Surely they’re not going to be dancing ballet in JEANS? Oh, but they are! And it is beautiful. The juxtaposition of the ‘manly’ car garage and power dynamics between the couples, against the graceful ballet is an incredible choice.
Kurumi Kamayachi enters the stage as Rita and steals the show. Her chemistry with Leonardo McCorkindale who plays Angelo is unmatched, bringing a tear to my eye as they get lost in each other on a sweet innocent night.
Then, the lights go red. Work is over and the night has begun. The dancing starts to heat up, bringing a racier, intimate vibe to the ballet. This is where the story really begins!
Luca (Will Bozier) and Lana (Cordelia Braithwaite) lock eyes. The music halts, I hold my breath. They slowly approach, prowling around one another, as we wait for the crescendo. The music slowly builds up and peaks as they finally cave.
The scene transforms into a beautiful tapestry of fighting and ballet. Somehow they are bleeding – how the performers have stored fake blood capsules and released them at the perfect time is impressive.
A true standout was Leonardo McCorkindale. The way he played into his emotions and emitted that through his dance was incredible. I’m caught up in his rage during the prison scene, the innocence of his scene with Rita, and the evolution of his character as he becomes vengeful. He’s a talent to behold.
Without words, it’s still easy to follow what’s happening. Ballet uses emotion through movement to communicate with the audience, and it’s incredible how little you notice the lack of dialogue when it captures you so well.
It was a captivating performance, with a twist I did not see coming. If you’re looking for something raunchy, exhilarating, and totally different – this is for you!
