Disco Inferno

Newmarket Kings Theatre Summer School chose Jai Sepple’s Disco Inferno a modern 70s style musical, as their two week challenge for 2014. 

Set in 1976. the show features memorable songs of the 70s era, including Boogie Nights, Celebration and Hot Stuff. The musical is loosely based on the story of Faust.

The music and the wardrobes almost write their own script but Disco Inferno isn't just about 70s fashion and music. Underpinning it all is a light-hearted script dealing with the age old conundrum; the desire for success versus the power of love.

The story involves Jack, a 21st birthday boy, who sells his soul to the devil’s representative in order to achieve fame and fortune – but at a cost. 

It never ceases to amaze me what summer school participants manage to create in two weeks.  One week of rehearsal and one week of performance, and true to form this year’s NKT Summer School pulled out all the stops.

70s music may well have been familiar to the majority of the week’s audiences but one must bear in mind this wouldn’t necessarily be the case with these young performers.  However, all the songs were performed with confidence and the choreography carried out with considerable expertise by every single performer.  

The story moved along nicely with only the occasional line lost to a too-rapid delivery and the pace was good throughout. 

The scenery was minimal with couple of dance poles and steps down either side of a raised area all of which were made good use of.  The large number of scene changes in act one slowed things down a bit but they were carried out as swiftly as moving stage trucks allowed.

For me there were a couple of niggles.  Lighting design was good but there were problems with the follow spots when performers were on the raised area or sitting stage right and left on the fore stage as shadows of the lighting equipment obscured faces.  This is in no way a criticism of the follow spot operators who did a fine job.

Also, and here I am about to mount what seems to have become my hobby horse of late: the sound was too loud.  This show had an exceptionally good live orchestra but it sometimes drowned out the singers even though they were wearing radio mikes. 

The show was full of good performances, the 24+ cast even the very youngest gave everything they had.  They were all full of energy and enthusiasm which never flagged, even to the extent of serenading us outside as we left the theatre at the end of the evening.

All the principals gave strong performances.  

Toby Mackrill as Jack he has good stage presence and worked well with Ellen Nice (who has a great voice) as girlfriend Jane. Both gave extremely good performances.

I so enjoyed the performance of Eddie Mitchell who was absolutely excellent as Tom, he has great comedy timing, it was a pleasure to watch him and his ‘freeze’ throughout Maggie’s “I Love to Love” was amazing. An accomplished performance.

Rhiannon McBean as Maggie and Vicky Ward as Kathy gave Tom and Heathcliffe great support.  Kathy’s rendition of “Street Life” was first rate. 

Josh Jenkins as the egotistical Heathcliffe did the role full justice.  He has a great voice and, besides his talented footwork, is pretty nifty on the electric guitar too.  Well done.

One of the performances of the night for me was Aaron Peart’s Duke (The Devil). Smooth, confident coupled with a tremendous voice. 

Smashing performances too from Rachel Smith (Lady Marmalade); Max Mackrill (Terry); Freddie Hall (Nick Diablo) and not forgetting (and how could we?) Joseph Beach’s gay barman Lily who did a great line in feather boas: few lines but considerable impact.

Congratulations to the whole cast and to director Jamie Maguire together with all the ‘grown ups’ that guided them through to performance standard.  

This was a high energy show and I suspect a trip down memory lane for many there whose feet couldn’t help tapping to the familiar 70s music.  

Several of the older members of the cast are now moving on to university and, though we wish them well, their contribution to NKT productions will be missed.  However, we can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that there is so much talent coming through to carry the standard on.

Congratulations everyone and thanks for a great evening.

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