Summer Holiday

Don (Clark Eaton Turner), Barbara (Jan Baird), Edwin (William Pearson), Cyril (Craig Monks), Steve (Jack McAulay), Angie (Kayley Turner), Mimsie (Rebecca Frankland), Alma (Jennifer Cook), Stella (Lorraine Kemp), Jerry (Simon Thomson), Wilf (Mitchell Green)  Sandra (Catharine Fletcher), Maria, the Wedding Singer (Kirsty Cleland), Wrightmore (Alaister Waddell), Gendarme   (David Moffat), WPC (Holly Nichol), Customs Officer (Cory Paterson), Bride (Amy Thomson), Flower girl (Lucymarie McEvoy), Commander (Richard Moffat), Marjorie (Lynsey Cullen), Malcolm/Priest (Richard Jamieson), Guard (Lauren Mackay)

 

The introduction, including the fabulous band and featuring a great guitar solo, set the mood for the opening scene. Although the band appeared smaller than usual, it was massively effective in recreating so many well known ‘Cliff Richard’ hits and showcasing the outstanding dancing and slick scene changes through the plethora of instrumentals. 

At Wilf’s (Mitchell Green) cafe, the rain dance girls and the bowler hatted commuters, entered through the auditorium, adding interest to the opening scene, and that was just for starters. With number, after show stopping number, the boys had a perfect opportunity to show off their harmonic vocals. 

The slick scene changes, from country lane  to the garage workshop, proved that the four ‘Summer Holiday’ mates, Don (Clark Eaton Turner), Steve (Jack McAulay), Cyril (Craig Monks) and Edwin (William Pearson), were teamed to perfection. They moved confidently and energetically throughout the seven day montage sequence during which they revealed the marvellous motor that would take them on their exciting, colourful, musical, road trip extravaganza. Never a hitch or hold up could have been suspected, if you didn’t already know the story. 

The girls breakdown scene was comical as the boys came to the rescue. ‘The Gee Whizz, It’s You’, gave the fabulous girls, Mimsie (Rebecca Frankland), Alma (Jennifer Cook) and Angie (Kayley Turner) a chance to prove that they were every bit as harmonic as the boys, joining forces for an outstanding ‘Let Us Take You For a Ride’. And so the journey took off again at a pace of knots, through town and country, over mountains, through borders, in club and chapel to an all inclusive party ‘On the Beach’. Wow! 

The perfectly cast Barbara (Jan Baird), portrayed the non-animated side to her character during her well presented solo ‘Constantly’. She quite clearly couldn’t wait to escape her chattels and TV stardom, including the clutches of her Mother, who desperately needed recognition. 

Stella (Lorraine Kemp) and Jerry’s (Simon Thomson) hilarious and OTT characterisation had the audience in stitches in whatever guise they endeavoured to portray. Their fabulous costumes added massively to the comic couple’s image as they persistently bumbled their way to capturing Barbara. Top marks for two very gifted performers of different generations, who melded together in a perfect partnership throughout. Fabulous!  

The runaway Barbara, in her ‘boy’ guise was welcomed to the travelling group with another harmonic favourite, ’Batchelor Boy’, but as her disguise slipped she was quite clearly a female leading light, partnered perfectly with Don, showing  that together they oozed natural ability in song and dance. Don’s star quality and versatility proved him to be the linch pin for the show, leading and contributing to possibly 80% of the numbers in the show with 100% audience approval. Steve proved to be a massive support within the boy band, and flirtations accepted, he made a big impression with, ‘I could Easily Fall in Love with You’. He and partner Mimsie shone throughout. The Act 2 opening was owned by Edwin, leading the company in the,  full on, rock and roll jive number, ‘Move It’, which led on to the couples showing off their dance prowess in ‘Swinging Affair’. The movement and dance choreography was outstanding. A special mention has to also go to the ‘Living Doll’ and The Wedding sequence. 

The beautiful chapel scene with it’s golden colour theme starred Maria (Kirsty Cleland), the Wedding Singer’s ‘Lei Vuole Ballare’. Featuring hand clapping and foot stomping, ‘Do You Wanna Dance? had me thinking “yes! I wanna dance too”. The cast had so much fun with this show and was supported by many excellent cameo roles throughout, playing their own critical role in the overall success. The ‘La La La Song’ saw everyone wanting to party, including me! The company really have a lot to celebrate in the memory of this production and without a doubt the other ‘Big News’ is the show’s success. The lead up to the finale was dressed in stunning red and white ‘On the Beach’ wear, with the bows coming one hit after another.  The appreciative audience raised the roof clapping and singing along with the company and I’m guessing that some of us of a certain generation would have been singing all the way home too. 

To quote the song >>>>> Congratulations!

 

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