Based on the 1980s film of the same name, Footloose: The Musical is full of spirit, fun and 80’s classic tunes including ‘Holding Out for a Hero’, ‘Almost Paradise’ and of course the iconic title track ‘Footloose’.
City boy Ren thinks life is bad enough when he’s forced to move from Chicago to a small backwater town in America, but his world comes to a standstill when he arrives in Bomont to find that dancing and rock music have been banned by the town Pastor, Reverend Shaw Moore. Taking matters into his own hands, Ren has all hell breaking loose and, eventually, the whole town on its feet getting footloose!
With a cast made up of actor/musicians you can’t help but marvel at their multi-tasking abilities! All instruments in the show are played live on stage by the actors and special mention must go to Anna Westlake who not only is very skilled at the saxophone but plays it whilst moving around the stage on roller-skates!
The role of our leading man Ren is played by Joshua Hawkins who, it feels, really understands the emotion and rawness of the role. A talented singer and dancer, Joshua really is a triple threat (and one to watch in the future I think).
Jake Quickenden takes on the role of Willard Hewitt, a character who offers delightful comic relief against the teenage angst and, sometimes difficult, themes of the show. Jake is best known for his rise to fame on the X-Factor but since then he’s certainly made a name for himself on the stage. One scene stands out in particular where Jake really shone…. gold hot pants…. need I say more?
Having just finished performing in the national tour of Chicago, Darren Day is now treading the boards as the Reverend Shaw Moore, the overpowering town Pastor who believes music and dancing are the source of everything bad in the world. Darren plays the role very well, bringing a strong yet humble demeanour to the character.
Footloose marks the professional debut for its leading lady, Lucy Munden, playing the role of Ariel; the Pastors daughter turned bad. From the moment Lucy steps on stage, it is clear she’s a total powerhouse, playing the role full of teenage anger at her overbearing father, rebelling against the world and falling in love with the new guy in town.
A review of this show cannot go without mentioning the fast paced, up-beat dancing put together by choreographer Matt Cole. It’s everything you could want in an 80’s musical; high energy, full of fancy tricks and leaves you feeling tired just watching it – especially the finale!
I do feel the brilliant cast were let down by some technical issues on the night, such as lighting placement and missed sound cues but, given its only their second week on tour, I wouldn’t hold that against them and I’m sure they’ll find their feet very quickly!
Footloose is one to see if you’re looking for an easy watch with catchy tunes and memorable performances.
**** Four Stars