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Success
rides
in on
a dodgem car
Dreamboats and
Petticoats
Birmingham
Hippodrome
****
BILL Kenwright has found the winning formula for producing first-class
musical theatre and Dreamboats and Petticoats will not disappoint.
The musical was
born out of the success of the Dreamboats and Petticoats series of
albums and the script, written by skilled duo Laurence Marks and
Maurice Gran, is full of playful innuendo.
It is a story about growing up as
a teenager in what was a more innocent era for grown-ups of a certain
age. Put this together with a collection of classic rock and pop
songs, throw in a bit of nostalgia, some romantic trysts and you have a
success on a plate.
Though the cast were very young
they were strong, energetic and talented with amazing voices. The
dancing did just fall short of the choreography potential. The
audience thrilled to classic rock'n'roll numbers such as The Wanderer,
Bobby's Girl, Sweet Nothin's , Poetry in Motion and Teenager in Love.
The story revolves around a group
of teenage members of St Judes Youth club. Bobby a spotty, swotty, 17
year old, has a talent for writing songs and is desperate to sing in a
band. He auditions but looses out to Norman (Jonathan
Bremner), the older, narcissistic womaniser with
great looks, great voice and questionable morals.
They compete to win a national
youth club song writing competition, and the attentions of the beautiful
and saucy Sue (Carolynne Good). Laura (Daniella Bowen) the school
swot and Plain Jane, secretly in love with Bobby, is an accomplished
musician and lyricist and the perfect foil for Bobby's musical talents.
TUNNEL OF LOVE
Things come to a head on a youth
club trip to the seaside. This scene is extremely well done; with
dodgems and winged fairground boys in the Tunnel of Love. The a
cappella moments here are exceptional. Laura and Bobby
finally get together at her birthday party (Happy Birthday Sweet
Sixteen) and, yes you've guessed it, they go on to win the competition.
Josh Capper gave an excellent
performance but didn't quite carry off the Orbison number ‘In Dreams'.
First-class performances were also delivered by Gareth Leighton in his
first professional part playing Ray, Clare Ivory (Donna) and Tony Clegg
as Phil and the Older Bobby. A special mention must be made to the
band.
The audience loosened up during
the second act joining in with ‘It's My Party' and by the end of the
show most were standing, dancing and clapping. The show closed to
a standing ovation.
When you leave the theatre and
people are still singing you know the show was a success. To 22-05-10
Lynda Ford
And another golden oldie . . .
****
ROLL back the years to 1961and you can't fail
to enjoy this high octane musical packed with some of the greatest hits
from the rock 'n' roll era.
It may not be the most gripping story you will ever
see, but the slim plot makes room for the cast to deliver a shedload of
super songs like Bobby's Girl, Only Sixteen, Great Pretender, and Let's
Twist Again.
There's love in the air, of course, with young Bobby
and 15-year-old Laura hoping to win a song-writing competition, facing a
little competition on all fronts from ladies' man Norman.
Josh Capper excels as Bobby and Daniella Bowen is
impressive in the role of Laura who suddenly blossoms on her 16th
birthday (Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen).
SEXY SUE
Both have fine voices, and there are splendid
contributions from Jonathan Bremner as the cocky Norman and Carolynne
Good, the sexy Sue.
Anthony Clegg strings things together nicely in the
role of the older Bobby, reminiscing on his past, but this show is all
about the music...a kaleidoscope of happy hits that ends with the entire
audience on their feet dancing, swaying and clapping to C'mon Everybody
and At the Hop.
Not forgetting the excellent band on stage.
Dreamboats and Petticoats, inspired by the megga-selling
albums of that name, sails on to Saturday night
Paul Marston
http://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/
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