The Jewel In The Crown
Crescendo at The Benidorm Palace. Review by Jerry Lane.
Having lived here for the past nine years and produced several high profile events at the Benidorm Palace myself, including the late show business giant Danny La Rue O.B.E, and the legendary Joe Longthorne, as well as many charity events. I have an insight into the phenomenal amount of work that goes into the creation of each and every new production at the Benidorm Palace. Recently I was invited to attend the opening of their latest spectacular "Crescendo". I have to say that in my opinion the Benidorm Palace is a glittering shinning jewel that sets the standards in an otherwise brash, over the top, over done town. The current show could easily hold it's own alongside the Moulin Rouge, the Lido and anything Las Vegas has to offer and for a third of the ticket price too. The Benidorm Palace has over the past two years undergone a major contemporary facelift. It has been brought kicking and screaming from the flared trousers and platforms of the nineteen seventies to the very heart of the new millennium. The Palace now sets the scene, from the moment you ascend the steps outside the wonderful piece of art that is its façade, through the continual colour changing illuminated grand foyer entrance with its polished marble floors, where you then descend the glittering black glamorous staircase, reminiscent of a twenties Hollywood set that transports you into a superb dinner auditorium.
The Maitre De showed our party to our perfectly set table with its crisp linen tablecloth and napkins. The Gran Plus dinner was severed impeccably by a very polite and attentive waiter. The superb dinner consisted of goat cheese and honey salad followed by delicious crème of vegetable soup and freshly baked roll, then onto a selection of the finest shellfish and smoked salmon mousse plate. All this before we cut into a perfectly grilled Argentinean steak with vegetable terrine and lyonnaise potatoes with a fresh fish option available for non meat eaters. Then dinner was finished with delicate individual pastry cakes severed with a raspberry coulee. The entire dinner was accompanied by a selection of the finest wines from around Spain including a quality cava from the house of Codorniu. The sheer military operation of catering to over eight hundred plus dinner guests in less than an hour and a half is a feat in itself, but to serve a dinner of this quality is magnificent, something the Benidorm Palace should be very proud of. As our meal came to its conclusion the lights dimmed and the curtain rose on what could only be described as an eclectic melange of sheer spectacle. Within seconds, fifty immaculate presented performers had filled the stage. They delivered dance routines that are so well timed, tight, well rehearsed, imaginative and so rapid you would need to see this show a dozen times to take in all the many varied aspects of this fabulous production.
The routines have been carefully chosen to reflect the dance moods of the modern day theatre audiences, with extracts from Riverdance, Stomp, Bob Fosse, Cossack, body popping, flamenco, modern and contemporary and some very elegant, tasteful, topless, beautifully executed numbers. This season's production is divided into sections that flow, but not necessarily flawlessly. Ingenious speciality acts from around the world punctuate both halves of the show, and all of these speciality performers must surely be leaders in their chosen professions. The inclusion of New Bamboo Orchestra, a live band, fronted by a very glamorous, young, talented female singer, gave the audience a chance to take to the dance floor to show off their own moves. This adds to the overhaul ambience of the evening. The one criticism I have from a personal point of view is that I have always thought that the introduction of production singers to front some of the spectacular dance routines, as in other shows of its type around the world, would give the production more light and shade. With English and Spanish language dominating most of the planet, with a well chosen set of musical number sung in both languages I could not see this being a cultural barrier.
The exquisite, lavish and obviously expensive costumes are created by French couturier Manuel Fiabane, and the production content devised by the infinite talents of genius artistic director David Moore and his team, who deliver a slick spectacular show that creates a wonderful evening's entertainment. Special thanks must go to Vicent and Christine Climent the owners of the Benidorm Palace for their continuing commitment to excellence within the entertainment industry, and to Joanne and David Climent for the smooth operation of this phenomenal jewel in the crown of Benidorm. If you have never been to the Benidorm Palace make sure you add it to your social and special events calendar, the Benidorm Palace doors are open to everyone. If you have visited the Palace, then visit again, you will not be disappointed but you really will be amazed.
www.benidorm-palace.com
