Anton and Erin: "Puttin' on the Ritz"

Wednesday 9th February, 2011
The Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth

It was a performance to find yourself getting totally lost in. While critics have accused their earlier tours of being somewhat stuck in a time warp, Anton Du Beke and Erin Boag prove that their timelessness is one of their greatest strengths. Watching them grace the Pavilion’s stage was to be blissfully unaware of any goings on beyond the theatre’s four walls.

There was a class and sophistication in the Strictly Come Dancing duo’s ballroom routines which epitomised vintage Hollywood glamour; Anton was dapper in sharp suits and patent shoes while Erin wowed the crowd throughout with a series of show-stopping diamond-scattered dresses.

The up-tempo numbers jarred slightly with the romance of the rest of the routines but allowed the show’s stars, joined by two other dance couples, to risk tricks and lifts that are ten times more nail-biting to see live than they are to watch on Strictly. Meanwhile, jazzy routines to hits like ‘Razzle Dazzle’ had the audience craning their necks in anticipation.

The tone was set by soulful vocalist Lance Ellington accompanied by the London Concert Orchestra playing live onstage. The singer’s pitch-perfect charm became a highlight of the show, particularly in his goose-bump inducing rendition of ‘Cry Me a River.’

It was a pleasant surprise to see both Anton and Erin take to the mic to sing for the audience; in the first half Anton carried off a smooth cover of “Somewhere Beyond the Sea” while Erin later gave a coquettish performance of “My Baby and Me” in a silver two-piece which had jaws dropping all around.

The professionals' chemistry onstage was lovely throughout although the conversation, at times, fell a little flat. Though Du Beke is a crowd-pleaser and Boag a softly-spoken delight, a lack of direction made for some awkward pauses and the humour and showmanship was a little dated in its Bruce Forsythe style delivery. This is not so difficult to forgive however, considering that most of the audience were undoubtedly Brucie fans.

And away from the bright lights of the hit BBC1 show, Anton and Erin did not disappoint. The show was often serene, always sophisticated and, in its essence, completely timeless.