Have you ever felt nostalgic for a decade you weren't even
a part of?
Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie's high octane and full
throttle theatrical reimagining of the '80's classic 'Footloose' creates an
overwhelming sense of anemoia by creating a rebellious, fun-loving and first-love-filled world you can't help but crave being a part of.
Everyone knows the story – big city kid Ren who moves to a
small rural town where Rock n Roll music has been outlawed and dancing is
against the law. You can't help but root for the passionate kid who just wants
to bring self-expression back to the town of Bomont for the kids who have known
nothing about and no dancing for their entire lives.
Full of big numbers you just want to dance to (including
the titular track and absolute classic) this show really packed a punch in
terms of the sheer energy coming off the stage and it was almost infectious –
Joshua Hawkin's portrayal of Ren was incredibly charming, and bounced perfectly
off Jake Quickenden's hilarious portrayal of Willard; I try never to expect
much from celebrities in touring casts so as not to be disappointed, but
Quickenden never missed a beat and provided some of the best comedic relief
I've seen, gelling perfectly with every cast member he interacted with. His
adorable relationship with Rusty (Oonagh Cox) was heart-warming to see
developing throughout the show (and their remarkable vocals were nothing to
shake a stick at, either.) The entire cast worked together beautifully and
vocally were one of the strongest I've seen; in particular the leading lady and
pastor's daughter Ariel, played by Lucy Munden. An absolute powerhouse, supported
beautifully by an incredibly talented ensemble cast. Her rendition of 'I Need A Hero' was absolutely stunning, while still being arguably one of the funniest
songs of the show.
The only downside on the audio front, however, was a
little bit of bad mixing – the vocals were somewhat hindered in the first half
of the show due to being difficult to hear over the instruments, which did mean
it hard to make out the lyrics in the majority of the songs. I appreciate that
it can be difficult to get the levels spot on when you're working with a full
cast playing live instruments there on stage, and this did seem to be rectified
by the second act, so really nothing too much to worry about.
Sara Perks did an amazing job of recreating a
stereotypical small town 1980s vibe, with gorgeous moveable sets that were so
detailed and realistic there was nothing really left to the imagination – a
very positive example of sensory overload clad in denim, lycra and neon lights,
and you don’t get much more '80s than that.
I'm not able to comment on how closely the musical
adaptation sticks to the original movie as it isn't one I've seen – I decided
to keep myself in the dark for this one so I could enjoy it in its entirety,
however it retains the well-loved soundtrack and works beautifully on the
stage, so it isn't like you need to be a lifelong super fan to enjoy it. It's
perfect for fans of the movie, fans of '80's music or just fans of having a bit
of a boogie. 'Footloose' runs at the Bradford Alhambra until Saturday 25th June,
so cut loose and get yourself over there for a good old fashioned dance – after
all, dancing is not a crime!
Reviewer - Hazel Kaye
on - 20.6.22
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