{"id":141169,"date":"2022-05-14T00:15:38","date_gmt":"2022-05-13T14:15:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/?p=141169"},"modified":"2022-05-14T00:24:52","modified_gmt":"2022-05-13T14:24:52","slug":"celtic-illusion-reimagined-touring-theatre-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/celtic-illusion-reimagined-touring-theatre-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Illusion Reimagined (touring) &#8211; theatre review"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scintillating, fast paced, brilliantly choreographed Irish tap dancing. A strong, rhythmic, ear-pleasing score. Maestros on the fiddle and flute. Elegant and evocative costumes. Mesmersing magic. That is Celtic Illusion Reimagined.\u00a0This dynamic, spicy and intoxicating hour and a half stage show (excluding interval) is celebrating the 10th anniversary of Celtic Illusion, the vision of creator, director, choreographer and star Anthony Street.\u00a0The native Victorian was formerly a principal dancer with Michael Flatley\u2019s Lord of the Dance. His electrifying steps have lost none of their power or panache.\u00a0Through 20 numbers, he and other members of the 17-strong cast showcase their polish and prowess.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-141172 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/rsz__dsc7777.jpg?resize=560%2C374&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"374\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/rsz__dsc7777.jpg?w=560&amp;ssl=1 560w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/rsz__dsc7777.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/rsz__dsc7777.jpg?resize=272%2C182&amp;ssl=1 272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is no shortage of tap and to me it is just as exhilarating as when I first set eyes upon it in the mid 1990s. That was Riverdance.\u00a0The 14 dancers in Celtic Illusion Reimagined, headlined by Street and Georgia May, whose professional dance career took off with the show Rhythms of Ireland, are a seriously talented troupe.\u00a0A series of combinations \u2013 solos and duets, all the way up to the full contingent on stage together (my personal favourite) \u2013 ensure the repertoire is a heady mix.\u00a0Interspersed with these numbers are the smooth, haunting and uplifting vocals of Irish singer and songwriter Rebecca Harkin.\u00a0Fiddle player Shimna Higgins and flautist Rennie Pearson also have their time to shine, individually and collectively.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-141171 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/rsz_2015celticillusion-0161.jpg?resize=560%2C373&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/rsz_2015celticillusion-0161.jpg?w=560&amp;ssl=1 560w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/rsz_2015celticillusion-0161.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/rsz_2015celticillusion-0161.jpg?resize=272%2C182&amp;ssl=1 272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Costume changes, appearances, disappearances and levitation are part of the seamlessly performed \u201ctrickery\u201d, prompting shock and delight from the audience.\u00a0I briefly referenced the costuming earlier. It is stunning. From black and white, to rich and colourful pieces, and flowing gowns, the changes are frequent and alluring.\u00a0In fact, there is joy in all we see.\u00a0The smiles on the artistes\u2019 faces are matched by the pleasure we derive from witnessing them at the top of their game.\u00a0Clearly, countless hours of hard work have gone into perfecting their craft and they don\u2019t miss a beat.\u00a0The influences of Bob Fosse, Michael Jackson and Broadway are apparent, but beyond that Anthony Street and co have charted their own path \u2013 one well worth treading.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141173 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/rsz__dsc7737.jpg?resize=560%2C374&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"374\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/rsz__dsc7737.jpg?w=560&amp;ssl=1 560w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/rsz__dsc7737.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/rsz__dsc7737.jpg?resize=272%2C182&amp;ssl=1 272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Celtic Illusion Reimaged is on at The Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne on 14th May, 2022. It then continues its Australian tour in regional Victoria and beyond.\u00a0For all dates, go to <a href=\"https:\/\/celticillusion.com\/tour-dates\/australia\/\">https:\/\/celticillusion.com\/tour-dates\/australia\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Alex First<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Scintillating, fast paced, brilliantly choreographed Irish tap dancing. A strong, rhythmic, ear-pleasing score. Maestros on the fiddle and flute. Elegant and evocative costumes. Mesmersing magic. That is Celtic Illusion Reimagined.\u00a0This dynamic, spicy and intoxicating hour and a half stage show (excluding interval) is celebrating the 10th anniversary of Celtic Illusion, the vision of creator, director,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":141170,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[801],"tags":[7509,726,7507,2681,7508,2423],"class_list":["post-141169","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-theatre","tag-anthony-street","tag-arts-centre-melbourne","tag-celtic-illusion-reimagined","tag-illusion","tag-irish-dance","tag-magic"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Celtic Illusion Reimagined (touring) - theatre review -<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/celtic-illusion-reimagined-touring-theatre-review\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Celtic Illusion Reimagined (touring) - theatre review -\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Scintillating, fast paced, brilliantly choreographed Irish tap dancing. 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Twelve talented dancers \u2013 five men and seven women \u2013 together\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Theatre&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Theatre","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/category\/theatre\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Irish-Celtic-03.jpg?fit=1024%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Irish-Celtic-03.jpg?fit=1024%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Irish-Celtic-03.jpg?fit=1024%2C600&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Irish-Celtic-03.jpg?fit=1024%2C600&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":152934,"url":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/circus-of-illusion-touring-theatre-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":141169,"position":1},"title":"Circus of Illusion (touring) &#8211; theatre review","author":"Alex First","date":"January 8, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The magic is top shelf. So too the \u2013 at times frightening \u2013 rola bola routine (that is where an artist balances precariously on objects that move). There is also an impressive hula hoop act. The rest I could have done without.\u00a0As good as it is, Circus of Illusion feels\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Theatre&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Theatre","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/category\/theatre\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/IMG_1379.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/IMG_1379.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/IMG_1379.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2084,"url":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/illusion-dream-machine-music-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":141169,"position":2},"title":"The Illusion by Dream Machine &#8211; music review","author":"David Edwards","date":"June 14, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Dream Machine is a new band from lo-fi master Matthew Melton (Bare Wires, Warm Soda) and his wife Doris. You get Melton\u2019s craft of fuzzed up power pop with the late 60\u2019s \/ early 70\u2019s rock of The Doors, Deep Purple and Iron Butterfly. This mix brings you plenty of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Music&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Music","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/category\/music\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Dream-Machine.jpg?fit=716%2C512&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Dream-Machine.jpg?fit=716%2C512&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Dream-Machine.jpg?fit=716%2C512&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Dream-Machine.jpg?fit=716%2C512&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":169330,"url":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/the-great-gatsby-a-jazz-ballet-odyssey-big-live-at-her-majestys-theatre-and-touring-ballet-dance-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":141169,"position":3},"title":"The Great Gatsby: A Jazz Ballet Odyssey (BIG Live), at Her Majesty\u2019s Theatre and touring &#8211; ballet\/dance review","author":"Alex First","date":"March 19, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic 1925 novel is reimagined for the stage in a fusion of ballet, tap and jazz. BIG Live is a welcome new voice in the performing arts \u2013 a ballet company where tradition meets innovation. Alongside narration of the tragic Gatsby storyline is a stunning score, bold\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Music&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Music","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/category\/music\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/rsz__e4a7221.jpg?fit=560%2C373&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/rsz__e4a7221.jpg?fit=560%2C373&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/rsz__e4a7221.jpg?fit=560%2C373&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7954,"url":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/the-illusionists-direct-from-broadway\/","url_meta":{"origin":141169,"position":4},"title":"The Illusionists: Direct from Broadway","author":"Meredith Walker","date":"January 13, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm theatre traditionalist at heart; I don\u2019t like puppets, audience participation\u2026. or magic. So needless to say, The Illusionists: Direct from Broadway is my first (somewhat reluctant) show of its sort. And what a spectacular show I must admit it is. From the moment it begins with The Trickster (Paul\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Theatre&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Theatre","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/category\/theatre\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Illusionists-03.jpg?fit=1024%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Illusionists-03.jpg?fit=1024%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Illusionists-03.jpg?fit=1024%2C600&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Illusionists-03.jpg?fit=1024%2C600&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":892,"url":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/httptheblurb-com-aureviewsgodspell-reimagined-vac-theatre-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":141169,"position":5},"title":"Godspell Reimagined (VAC) &#8211; theatre review","author":"David Edwards","date":"May 6, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Joyful and triumphant, with modern flourishes and contemporary references, a pared back Godspell Reimagined, with a young and enthusiastic cast, makes for a fun night out. Above all, it is the sense of community \u2013 a collegiate feel \u2013 that prevails. 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