A Slice of Saturday Night

There's no hidden message or hard work to do when one views A Slice of Saturday Night. It's simply a compilation of tunes from the 1960s given new – some highly imaginative – lyrics strung together with minimal dialogue. One can just sit back, enjoy and try o remember how it felt to be sixteen again!

The story, as such, is basic. A number of teenage boys and girls descend on Club a Go-Go for their weekly rendezvous to eye and chat up the opposite sex. Times may have changed but the scenario hasn't.

This is a show that needs full commitment throughout. It was obvious from the start that all 10 in the cast meant to attack it for all it was worth. 

The opening title number set the standard with confident group singing and well-executed, but simple movements around the stage. The next number Waiting was equally well harmonized by the five girls. Some strong vocals here, reminiscing already!

It is not often that one can say that the whole cast made a full contribution to the performance but here I feel I am justified. The cast of 10 needed to feed off each other for the piece to work and there did not seem to be one moment where a character seemed out of place.

Del Parcell as Eric, the club's owner, did an excellent job keeping control of his unruly patrons yet finding time for a softer routine in Eric's Gonna Keep Doing and to show the boys how to tell Lies.

Katy Bovaird was well cast as Penny and I enjoyed her interpretation of the flirty tease.

Peter Tolfts and Kat Rooke teamed up to explain the heartache of being Seventeen.

Graham Duncan and Kate Ayres were plausible Sonny and Cher look-alikes in Love On Our Side – their version of I Got You, Babe.

Ice Maiden Bridget (Louise Kirtley) yearned for a Boy Of My Dreams but was, in fact, pursued only by Eddie (Brad Boxall) - the thickest loser of the bunch. The drunken episode was well paced and not overly intrusive.

Danny Hurley was perfect as Gary, playing the typical “I’ve done it all but actually I’ve done nothing!!” know all and Michelle Fisher as Sue was exactly as my friends used to be and I loved it. Your characterization was just right. Congratulations.

Musical director Malcolm Dorling, at the keyboard, had the perfect touch for each of almost 30 numbers and the band worked well together. However, in such close proximity to the audience, there were times when the music drowned out the vocals and we missed some vocal interpretation. I am aware however, that this difficulty was amended for further performances.

Costumes helped create a feel for nostalgia, from brothel creeper shoes, narrow ties and cord jackets for the boys to Mary Quant-type dresses, false eyelashes and beehive hairstyles for the girls.

This was exactly the right show for today and the intimate Bentley House Theatre was the ideal location.

Director Simon Latter and his talented, hard working cast made sure the audience enjoyed every minute.

Thank you for your hospitality

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.