Matthew Bourne's The Car Man won the Evening Standard Award for musical event of the year and it's easy to see why.
A re-imagining of Bizet's Carmen, The Car Man is edgy and dangerous, exhilarating and dark, retaining the essence of the original, its passion and tragedy, but set now in a greasy garage and diner in 1960s America, where the arrival of handsome drifter, Luca, is the spark that leads to an explosion of lust, revenge and betrayal that can only ever end badly.
It is testament to the extraordinary story-telling skill and cinematic vision of director and choreographer Bourne, the fabulous design of Lex Brotherton and Chris Davey's brilliant lighting, not to mention the phenomenal dancing of the entire cast, that you find yourself totally mesmerised by the tragic events unfolding inexorably on stage, without a word being spoken.
The dancing is breathtaking, a seamless fusion of styles as varied as line dancing and flamenco, and the acting outstanding.
This is dance at its absolute best - brilliantly choreographed, danced with extraordinary energy and totally accessible. In a word, electrifying.
The Car Man is at the Wales Millennium Centre until Saturday. To book, call 08700 40 2000 or visit www.wmc.org.uk PM
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