You will never, ever, ever find a happier bunch of tap artists in the world performing what is standard fare but with exceptional flair.
A well-structured and funny piece of theatre. Knowing what it is and how to deliver it is a bonus, as this unashamedly is fun and funny. With great tap skill, circus skill and the right musical accompaniment, this works an absolute treat.
Our principal performer and opening part of this act is infectious. Like a benevolent form of infection, you cannot fail to just love the guy. That he is then joined by a group of equally enthusiastic and exceptional tap artists just makes this an hour of complete and utter joy.
This is nothing fancy, nothing new, nothing daring, nothing blue, but variety entertainment of the highest order. It takes you back to the Saturday nights of a long-forgotten past when there were variety programmes on British television for the entire family to enjoy. There was always something a little bit risky at one point, but never anything to bring out the blushes, just incredible skill performed in areas where you can truly feel you have been in the company of a group of exceptional ability.
Tokyo Tap Do! tap like their lives depend upon it. They have a show which through several routines, the best of which are the Irish section, the toilet humour and the opening with the orchestra, entertain. The routines are all very similar in that they are simple, but their execution is amongst the best I have seen for some time. It’s like the performers are more than aware of the area in which they work and treat it with such respect that you can do nothing but be caught up with it. I was washed over with joy.
Sushi Tap Show manages to bring a smile to your face, hope in your heart and rhythm to your feet. That they engage us with this comes from the very beginning where our principal performer can get us up on our feet and applaud ourselves and them with enthusiasm. It’s been a long time since I have seen a standing ovation before the show! But he manages it and retains that cheery chappy exterior, which keeps us all onside throughout the show.
The circus skills, including the throwing of the four hoops, are all things which I have seen many times before, and all of those are performed with the skill you would expect. It has a very simple soundtrack, which is clearly designed to fit within their milieu and genre and does so. I am still seeing the Irish dance managed by four Japanese dancers with tap shoes on as my thrill of the hour and favourite piece of dance within the show. That takes thought and skill as well as a creative vision that will challenge and simply break down some of those boundaries that the arts manage so well. But most importantly, this is just simply a damn good time.