|
|
|
|
|
Swinging along to the 60s
Dreamboats and Miniskirts
Belgrade Coventry
****
SLICK back that hair, sharpen those
winklepickers and head on down to the Dreamboats and
Miniskirts is Bill Kenwright and Keith
Strachan’s sequel to Dreamboats and
Petticoats with many of the same cast
members reprising their roles. It’s a dream – particularly if you love
60s’ music. It’s 1962 and the main pairing of Laura
(Elizabeth Carter) and Bobby (Alex Beaumont) have tasted hit success but
St Mungo’s youth club have also produced The Conquests, also aching for
chart success. Norman (Ross William Wild) and Sue (Louise Olley)
are married and settled with a baby on the way, but Norman is fairly
easily persuaded to rejoin the band on the road. Ray (David Luke) is
making his name as a Ray gets a gig that takes the band from
Hornchurch Essex to Liverpool – the Cavern Club to be exact - where they
are injected by the Mersey Beat gramophone needle (the Beatles set is
brilliant ) - and never look back. Laura and Bobby split up as her success as a
rising star is assured while his is in the descent after the band
discover he has left Laura off the writing credits of their first
recording. This is a lively, energetic show with a young and
fresh cast and I have to say the audience danced in and danced out – it
was really well received. It is all performed live and the songs sum up
the era beautifully. For example Tony Lister (Alan Howell), their A & R
man, performs a wonderful House of the Rising Sun that the band
turn down as a potential flop… I would have bought it! Just as a footnote, during this most exciting
time in musical and world history Frank Ifield (from This is a great show, and a fitting sequel to the
excitement of Dreamboats and Petticoats. I particularly loved the
scenes with Norman and Sue; they are a treat individually and together
the perfect blend. What next Mr Kenwright? Have you any more up your
sleeve? To 15-11-14 Jane Howard
10-11-14
|
|
|
|
