Showman: An Evening with Anton Du Beke

Showman. It’s a powerful word (and a bold claim) which conjures up the idea of someone who not only sings and dances, but wows. One who captivates an audience and holds them. It’s not a term for actors, not even really for singers. It’s for those whose talent is elevated to the level of born-to-perform. Those who clearly relish playing to an audience and live for it.

Am thinking the likes of Hugh Jackman, Robbie Williams, Freddie Mercury, as well as Brucie, Barrymore, Brian Conley – it’s difficult to define but there’s a sense of theatre to their performance which goes beyond their talent. Showmanship, for want of a better word.

So does professional dancer-turned Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke live up to the title?

He can dance, no question. Although at 58, performing alongside those at least half his age, he may not be as nimble. But that’s where his extra pizzazz comes up. His facial expressions, mannerisms, make him infinitely watchable.

He can sing, a decent voice which works well alongside his curated list of classic big band/swing/old school musical theatre numbers such as Rhythm of Life, Luck Be A Lady, That’s Life, It Don’t Mean A Thing, all performed alongside vocalist Lance Ellington (who featured on SCD for 14 years). And he holds up well with All Of Me, showing a pleasant tone and penchant for that style of song.

Judging by the questions sent into a phone number provided for “Ask Anton”, the audience is clearly there as fans of SCD, and there are amusing stories about his time as a dancer on the show, as well as anecdotes about celebrity dance partners from Anne Widdecombe to Nancy Dell’Olio, which are lapped up.

There’s also a high-speed demo of the Viennese Waltz and the mind-boggling footwork intricacies of the fleckerl, showing not only the skill required for ballroom but also, that the number one skills required for Strictly pros is teaching!

Du Beke is a skilled performer (although he uses “magnificent” far too often!), and his band (under the leadership of Clive Dunstall) is a triumph. Routines (choreographed by West End regular and another SCD alumni Bill Deamer) are entertaining if sometimes a little more ragged than drilled-to-perfection.

But the audience wants a piece of their SCD hero and that’s what they get for just over two hours. It’s a pleasant evening and you’ll leave with a smile on your face.

It may not be quite as wide as Du Beke’s infectious grin (nor that of the producers given the hefty £50+ ticket price, possibly why it wasn’t a sellout performance), but going home with a smile on a wintry Tuesday is nothing to complain about.

And whether he really deserves the “showman” title? You decide.