FOOTLOOSE

It is many years since I saw the movie “Footloose”, but this is the first time I have ever seen the musical version.  I had totally forgotten the whole story line so was unsure what I was letting myself in for.  Footloose is a story about the bible-thumping preacher, Shaw Moore, who led the council to ban loud music and dance following the fatal accident of 4 youths, just outside the town of Bomont.  When Ren MacCormack moves into the town with his mother he enrols at the local high school and is appalled to discover the law against dancing.  Ren is determined to change things, he falls in love with Ariel (the preachers rebellious daughter) in the process – despite her jealous boyfriend Chuck.  And so the story unfolds...

With outstanding performances from Matthew Gardner as Ren, Harriet Chaplin as Ariel and David Kirk as Reverend Moore this was a brilliant production of Footloose – full of drive, energy and heaps of emotion.

They were brilliantly supported by Shirley Broadbent as Vi, Reverend Moore’s wife, Libby Megson as Ethyl, Ren’s mother, David Carr as Chuck, Natalie Kershaw-Johnson as Rusty (one of Ariel’s friends), and Will Sadler as Willard Hewitt, Rusty’s boyfriend.  With very strong support from Emily Broadwith as Wendy Jo, Dawn Boucher as Urleen and Lucy Sullivan as Billy Jean, every single person played and sang their part superbly.

“Holding Out for a Hero” was a brilliantly executed number, which included a number of male dancers behind the five girls of Ariel, Rusty, Wendy Jo, Urleen and Billy Jean dressed as “hero’s” James Bond, Batman, Spiderman, Superman and a Lifeguard.

David Kirk’s solo “Heaven Help Me” was intensely moving.  Shirley Broadbent, Libby Megson and Harriet Chaplin’s number “Learning to be Silent” was another beautifully emotional and moving song.

There were fabulous chorus routines and excellent ensemble numbers too and after all this they still had the energy to give us a tremendous “Footloose megamix” to send us on our way home almost as exhausted from watching as they must have been from performing.

The whole show was very slick with swift scene changes, excellent lighting and costumes.  The direction by Jay Cundell-Walker, Choreography by Ted Oxley-Kirk and Musical Direction by Cathy Sweet all combined to make this a brilliant show.

Congratulations to everyone involved.

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