In one and a half thrilling sentences, Dynamotion’s 70’s disco dance comedy D.I.S.C.O. can be described as: Sassy wigged dancers in lycra of every hue groove their way to great laughs. Also hallucination-induced Nixons.
D.I.S.C.O. takes us through the dance, drugs, and drama of the 1979 World Disco Dance competition in South Africa. The lead competitors are defending champion Bibi Van Der Kunt (Lara Liew), the weight obsessed Chinese Li Lan (Cat Fawcett-Cornes), Danish Olaf Olafsson (Thomas Sainsbury) stuck on past heartbreak, and fresh faced and naive Faheem Sahind (Zak Enayat) of Oman who finds the world of disco more than he bargained for.
The plot is fast-moving, predictable, and delightfully cliched- comparable to the cheese-soaked underdog dance films D.I.S.C.O parallels. The story and pun riddled dialogue is just padding between energetic dance sequences full of “dynamo dance style”. And bless the sweet moves that rain down in Africa. Each number is crisp, hilarious, and appropriately camp. All the classic disco greats meet mime and parodies of dance genres in their most generalised forms (Jazzercise anyone?).
The cast perform with all the pizzaz of the 70’s and then some, experts of exaggerated physical comedy. Standout numbers include Roberto Nascimento’s Raining Men, and Thomas Sainsbury’s The Tide is High. Kate Simmonds’ performance as the excessive Italian Loretti Spaghetti is also a comedic standout.
Perhaps the greatest performers of all are the garish costumes glowing under the multi-coloured disco lights. Lycra, glitter, sequins, and outrageous wigs animate each character.
The script offers punchy one liners, referencing but not trying to resolve heated issues including 70’s racism and violence in South Africa, and the cultural appropriation of The Village People.
D.I.S.C.O. is wholly entertaining and guarantees some good laughs and a fun night out. Catch Dynamotion until the end of the week at the Basement Theatre.
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