Review: Anton & Erin Go To Hollywood, Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, Wednesday, January 23

by Keith Hunt

After all the duds inflicted on Anton Du Beke on Strictly, it was a treat to see him floating around the Marlowe stage as one with his fellow pro and partner of some 16 years, Erin Boag.

Asked in the Q&A session in the second half of the show his most embarrassing moment, it was a two-word no-brainer: Anne Widdecombe... followed by Kate Garraway, Nancy Dell’olio, Jerry Hall and – “Don’t get me started” – Esther Rantzen.

In fact, toothy Esther did get him well-and-truly started and sparked a hilarious story about a red wig, split dress and a garter.

“They don’t give me a chance,” wailed Anton, aka Anthony Beke from Sevenoaks. While he must despair of ever winning the coveted trophy, I suspect the inveterate showman enjoys the attention surrounding his calamitous partners.

He vowed to get himself an Olympian next time but was beaten to the punchline when a voice from the capacity audience suggested Mo Farah.

Anton has made no secret of dearly wanting to take over from Bruce on Strictly should he ever retire, and must surely be a front-runner. He certainly has the Brucie chin and cheeky chutzpah for it.

The 46-year-old dance master underlined his credentials as a fine all-round entertainer in Anton and Erin Go to Hollywood, as he and the lovely Erin paid homage to the glitz and glamour of the musicals.

Backed by a pristine 24-piece orchestra, taking up a third of the stage, Anton, who must have the daintiest feet in ballroom dancing, and Erin swept on for a Top Hat routine with their guest dancers.

Anton showed he could sing a bit too in duets with Strictly singer Lance Ellington, son of jazzman Ray. The crooner mockingly trod on the dance master’s toes, metaphorically speaking, with a few nifty steps of his own.

But it was, of course, Anton and Erin’s dancing we all came to see and they didn’t sell us short in classics like Hello Dolly, The Lady is a Tramp, Steppin’ Out With My Baby and One from A Chorus Line.

Anton and Erin, looking dazzling in colourful shimmering and sparkling dresses, twinkled-toed through the quick step, foxtrot, tango and Viennese waltz to leave us wanting more.

Despite being a Kent man, it was his and Erin’s first time at the theatre, but hopefully not the last.