Is Riverdance past its sell-by date? Surprisingly not. After a five-year absence conquering the rest of the world, it is back and as reckless as ever, knees flying shamelessly in that famous line-up. Trying to hate it, trying not to grin when the band plays full out and 60 feet answer right back, is a challenge.
While Riverdance "Lagan" performs in the US, Riverdance "Liffey" has just opened in Edinburgh on a new British tour. This is a tight-knit company that delivers the goods: drilled dancers, polished guest artists and a talented bunch of musicians playing the platinum score by Bill Whelan. The format is simple and, costumes aside, largely unchanged. Irish dancing teams up with a pick'n'mix selection of world moves - flamenco, American tap, Russian Cossack - in a glitzy showbiz spectacular packing 13 scenes into two hours.
Gentle harmonies from the eight singers, instrumental solos and booming, schmaltzy narration pad out the show, but it's the familiar, primal Celtic rhythms that really count: the bodhran (drum), Mairin Fahy's magic fiddle, and of course those feet. Amplified to the rafters, the package borders on cheesy, but miraculously gets away with it.
That's not because of the stars - Riverdance gets along fine without choreographer and dancer Michael Flatley, and even losing the current leading lady, Joanne Doyle, through injury on opening night seemed a minor hitch. Two understudies, Melissa Convery and Sinead McCafferty, covered for her fearlessly and with charm. Their partner, Breandan de Gallai, has less of that; he defines his steps well, but he lacks the bravado to stand out.
Bravado was concentrated in tap dancer Walter "Sundance" Freeman. Along with Yolanda Gonzalez Sobrado from Madrid (flaming flamenco) and the Moscow Folk Ballet Company (perfect high kicks), he brought an authentic touch to the journey. In the end, there were whistles and standing ovations all round.
· Until March 23. Box office: 0870 606 3424. Then touring to Newcastle, Manchester, Cardiff, Birmingham, Nottingham, Sheffield and London.
