Flashdance

I was too young to see the movie in theaters, so my first experiences with Flashdance must have been radio-based. The anthems of Maniac and What a Feeling peppered the skating rinks and minivans I frequented as a child of the 80s. And even into the early 90s, there was something so grown-up and sexy about that one-shoulder sweatshirt.  It's amazing how pop culture can translate an old, tattered piece of crappy clothing  into the epitome of nonchalant, teenage seduction!

This is all to say that my own personal build-up for seeing Flashdance the Musical involved a lot of wardrobe review bemoaning the lack of neon and off-shoulder gear.  I listened to Maniac while doing my dishes. I contemplated crimping my hair (didn't have time after work, tragically). I was pumped.

The musical delivers all of the 80s-era angst in a dance-laden production.  Alex Owens, played by Emily Padgett, belts out one synth-underscored number after another.  But it's her dancing, no surprise, that brings the applause. Perfectly reinacting key moments in the movie, with added choreography incorporating Alex's rough circumstances, Alex and the ensemble underscore the my-life-just-isn't-fair-but-I'm-going-to-do-my-best-anyway motif with the stomping of heels and Reeboks.

Many of the characters feel plastic, even Alex at times, but that's part of the appeal of the movie. The love story feels forced, but the movie wasn't any better on that score. This isn't a musical based in any shade of reality, but for the same reasons we love the movie, we enjoy the musical.  There may not be a lot of depth, but there's a lot of good music, dance moves you'll never attempt on your own, and, once again, the realization that women can remove their bras without removing their clothes. Fascinating.

Alex's fellow dancers at Harry's, Kiki and Tess, played by Dequina Moore and Rachelle Rak, were wonderfully warm, engaging characters to supplement Alex's often dour expression.  The numbers backstage at Harry's were the ones that felt the deepest to me, showcasing the sisterhood and support between these women low on their luck.  And the brilliance wasn't strictly tied to their dancing shoes, these women can sing.  

As one would hope, the final scene reenacts Alex's dramatic audition at the Shipley School of Dance, with the added help of the ensemble at the crescendo.  From Alex's iconic black leotard to the schoolmaster's enthused clap to the thrumming chords of "What a Feelin," by the time Alex ends in dream-accomplished exhaustion, the crowd was clapping and whistling with enthusiasm.  That's what we came to see.  That, and the chair-in-the-water thing.

If you grew up in the 80s or grew up on 80s movies, or if you just love to watch a crew of often scantily clad dancers hoof it, then this off-shoulder sweatshirt gem is your ticket to a good time this week.  Flashdance plays at the Orpheum through April 7.

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