|
|
|
|
|
Nostalgia in blue jeans Dreamboats and Petticoats Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton **** THIS is a show that revels in nostalgia,
swirling skirts, slicked hair and great music. A jukebox musical, the
song and dance are linked by a narrative set in 1961, at St Mungo's
youth club in Essex. Song writing hopefuls Bobby and Norman compete to win a national song writing contest and to win the heart of Sue, the youth club belle, providing ample excuse to roll out some forty two of the finest songs of the late 50s and early 60s. But Laura is the star as the talented "plain jane"
who comes good. The on stage live band adds to the sense of “being
there” prompting the audience’s toes to tap, mouths to hum, and finally
feet to dance . The secret of the show’s success is to play out
the eternal hope of youth and romance to a cross generational audience
of pensioners, their children, and their children’s children, brought to
life by a vibrant cast . Bobby is played by Stephen Rolley , Mathew
Colthard takes the role of Norman, while love interest Sue is played by
the sassy Louise Olley. Mark Wynter, who made his professional debut as a
recording artists in the 1960s, takes on the role of the youth club
leader, and finishes the show singing a few of his own hits, much to the
delight of the audience, with enviable energy and pizzazz. Forged originally on the back of a compilation
album, writers Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran can hardly go wrong with
classics from, Roy Orbison, Eddie Cochran, and Billy Fury, to name a
few, including; Let's Dance, To Know Him Is To Love Him, Shaking
All Over, Bobby's Girl, Runaround Sue, Let It Be Me, Happy Birthday
Sweet 16, The Great Pretender, C'mon Everybody, Only Sixteen, and Let's
Twist Again. Marks and Gran are the team behind Goodnight
Sweetheart, Birds of a Feather, The New Statesman and Shine On
Harvey Moon, men with a track record of understanding what the
public want and like . The script is laced with humour, the
defenestration of Sue being memorably proceeded by the line, "There goes
my baby . . . . !" Production is by Bill Kenwright and Laurie Mansfield
in association with Universal Music. The show does not aspire to the narrative
completeness of Mama Mia, or the conceit of We Will Rock
You. Instead it borrows from the success of Buddy!,
presenting catchy, simple, enduring chart hit music in live concert form
without being constrained by an individual artist. The singing is of a
consistently high standard from a vocally strong and versatile cast.
Hannah Boyce's To Know Him is to Love Him is outstanding, the two
ensemble a capella pieces are a joy, particularly Poetry in Motion.
Carole Todd's choreography is sharp, colourful and effervescent
throughout. Gary Longden And from under the
boardwalk . . . **** HE was a pop star in the 60s, and now Mark Wynter
is re-living the dream in this hit musical about teenage love and
ambitions at that time. Now 70, he plays the father of young Bobby who is
a budding singer and song writer, but he gets plenty of opportunities to
show that his voice still has great quality, and he's pretty nifty
on those pensioner pins in several rock 'n' roll numbers. With a large section of the audiences getting on
a bit, perhaps the promoters should issue a warning . . . don't try this
at home! The show opens with Wynter gently reminiscing
with his granddaughter about his musical youth, then bursts into action
with a string of great songs, including To Know Him is to Love Him,
Poetry in Motion, Let's Dance, Teenager in Love, and Happy
Birthday Sweet 16. Stephen Rolley is a confident young Bobby and
Hannah Boyce, making her professional debut in this production, excels
as the geeky teenager Laura who blossoms to become his attractive
girlfriend as well as co-songwriter. Outstanding performances, too, from Louise Olley
as sexy Sue, the blonde stunner who first catches Bobby's eye, and
Matthew Colthart, Norman, the rival with a fine voice and an ego to
match. The show ends with Wynter giving a remarkable
performance in hits like Venus in Blue Jeans, having already
thrilled one front stalls lady on opening night by holding her hand as
he sat on he edge of the stage while singing. This dream of a musical, with outstanding
on-stage musicians too, runs to 21.09.13. Paul Marston
|
|
|
|