Whiskey, you're the Devil!

Touring since 2014, the Irish dance troupe lit up the Opderschmelz on Saturday night with their latest production Whiskey, you're the Devil! The show is a thoroughly charming mix of music, song and dance, set against a backdrop of images of the Irish whiskey-making tradition. Above the stage, a rolling script (in German) appears at intervals throughout the performance, guiding the audience through the historical narrative.

Accompanied by award-winning singers and musicians, none of whom disappoint, the dance troupe have amassed a host of All-Ireland and world championship titles between them. The pace and intricacy of the incredible footwork by each individual dancer is front and centre, in contrast with other Irish dance productions where the military-style chorus-line effect has been somewhat exhausted.

One of the dance numbers cleverly combines footage of the show's choreographer, Michael Donnellan, dancing in an old whiskey distillery with a simulated performance on stage by the dance troupe. As the number develops, the levity, energy and ease with which they jump from whiskey barrel to floor and back to barrel again, is impressive. Even more so is the skill required to carry it off, without missing a beat, since part of the performance is without any musical accompaniment.

Despite the high-level production and amazing acoustics (the dancers' shoes are fitted with microphones so every tap is heard), the show has a level of intimacy that is sometimes lacking in larger dance productions. The band happily chatted with the crowd throughout the performance, in a relaxed, very Irish, story-telling manner, creating a warm lively atmosphere that had everyone on their feet by the end of the night.