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The title and subtitle are a little cliched, stirring an expectation of West Side Story meets Grease, a musical for mechanics. Ironically marred by the huge success of AMP s Swan Lake these elements perhaps explain why Matthew Bourne s latest vehicle never quite reached it's commercial top speed. But one should not compare the two, they are very different and deserve success in their own right.
Set in Harmony (pop. 325) a small midwest town in America, Car Man is a passionate dance-drama which tells of the relationships between five central characters. Luca (Alan Vincent), a drifter; Dino (Scott Ambler), owner of the garage and diner; Lana (Saranne Curtin), Dino s wife; Rita (Etta Murfitt), Lana s sister; and Angelo (Will Kemp), who is Rita s boyfriend.
courtesy of C4
Georges Bizet s score is used to great effect in this piece to give it a Mexican border town flavour. Bourne injects humour at relevant moments throughout this piece, during the shower scene in the first act for example, comedy works with the music to give an hilarious result. Ambler who many will know was The Prince in Swan Lake plays Dino, a burping farting sleaze who oozes enough grease to put a grease monkey s overalls to shame -the flies love him. The remaining characters are quickly introduced in the chaotically busy opening scene, and this is the only point in this cleverly shot piece where the filming struggles to keep pace with the action. Luca a rugged drifter who arouses the attention of Lana, a sassy redhead, and gives a predatorial display of flirtations with the flame-haired temptress, stoking the rivalry of the other men in the garage.
The wimpish Angelo dances an affectionate pas de deux with Rita until his feelings are mocked by the other men of the village. Luca comes to the rescue of Angelo and is elevated to hero status by Lana. In the next scene the scorching weather gives rise to a lustfully passionate and erotic romp by Luca and Lana who are joined by other villagers. The passion of the pair is quickly doused however by the return of Dino to the garage.
courtesy of C4
Luca s bisexuality is explored which, following intimacy between the pair, leads to a sexual awakening by Angelo. The affair between Luca and Lana is discovered by Dino with tragic results. The manipulative pair deflect blame for Dino s death onto Angelo and he is sent to prison for murder. In a bar Luca and Lana are plagued by their guilt for the murder and inside the prison Angelo is subjected to an ugly, brutal and graphic sexual assault by a prison guard who he overpowers and promptly escapes. The drunken Luca and Lana dance an tormented pas de deux in the bar, the role of Lana executed with great depth of feeling by Curtin throughout this piece. In the meantime Angelo makes his way back to the garage and takes Rita captive. A car race finishes at the garage and a fight ensues during which Lana and Luca s deception and the true events of the crime is revealed by Angelo to the townspeople. Luca overpowers Angelo and the pair fight each other. Luca is shot by Lana as he attempts to shoot Angelo, and is carried off by the men of the village under the shocked gaze of Lana.
With wonderfully innovative and stylish choreography The Car Man is a tale told without the need for distracting mime; movement and drama convey the story beautifully, though this is not ballet but more a dance-drama. Choreographically it easily rivals and even surpasses AMP s Swan Lake, but conceptually it doesn't stimulate the same curiosity which is perhaps even as the winner of The Evening Standard Award, Manchester Evening News Award and an Olivier nomination, it has failed to enjoy as much commercial success.
courtesy of C4
Car Man is broadcast on Channel 4 this Saturday the 22nd December 2001 at 9.00pm. and is a sexy fast-actioned must. Turn it on and rev it up!
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