Footloose
Pitlochry Festival Theatre, 30/8/24
Stage Adaptation by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie, Music by Tom Snow, Lyrics by Dean Pitchford
A co-production with the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich
This new production revives the faith in the power of theatre. A dynamite ensemble brings back the joy of seeing multi- talented performers working together through dance and song to tell a story of our times. The original film starring Kevin Bacon came out in 1984 with the musical adaptation breaking all box office records in 1998 when it premiered in New York. Directed by Walter Bobbie the show toured throughout the US, the UK and Australia over the years with a hit West End revival in 2017. At the end of its run this new production by Pitlochry Festival Theatre will move to delight audiences at The New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich. They won’t be disappointed. The basic premise tells the story of a city teenager Ren, who dances to relieve his poor homelife, forced to move to a small town in the middle of nowhere. He is an in-comer realising the town has a ban on dancing enforced by the local pastor. Sound familiar? Oliver Cromwell? The Taliban? Nothing new. Ren gets involved with the pastor’s daughter Ariel. He finds out that her brother and three others were killed driving away from a dance hall and father has never gotten over the tragedy. Eventually through clever negotiations and quotes from the Bible Ren gets the town committee to agree to a school dance. This breaks the curse. There are many revelations along the way as the story unfolds. But as the director Douglas Rintoul writes ‘the powerful message of bravery, unity, and the emancipating power of self- expression’ teaches us to fight for the right to dance. Brilliantly directed, choreographed and staged, this production makes full use of the thrust stage to bring the story and songs directly to the audience. Who I may say at a matinee, are predominately middle-class conservative pensioners or coach parties. However, they rose and cheered at the finale. The cast swap between being part of the live band, playing their part, moving sets and props on and off without losing characterisation. Remembering each move and where their instrument is left would be an impossible task for the mere mortals in the audience. They still bring moving songs and energetic songs to life. Bravo to the ensemble cast who clearly support each other throughout. No West End star players here! Each main character has a song or dance in which they can shine. The playlist is terrific; ‘Holding out for a Hero’ and ‘Let’s hear it for the Boys’ are classics but there are many other touching numbers particularly ‘Dancing is not a Crime’ sung by Ren, played by Luke Wilson, in fine voice, and the comic ‘Mama Says’ sung by Willard, played by Luke Thornton, who gets the laughs. Wendy Paver delivers a moving solo as Vi and Robin Simpson gets an opportunity to reveal his fine singing voice as Reverend Shaw Moore. I think I spotted him playing an older cowboy dancing in the group Hoe Down. A special mention to Elizabeth Rowe as Rusty. Her energy never abates and delivers everything you expect from an excited small-town girl. Connor Going as Chuck Cranston exudes energy, staying in character when on keyboards. Kirsty Finlay is a terrific Ariel, with assured vocals which she also brought to Carole King in ‘Beautiful’. I noted that this show was the evening production that night. A lesson to all aspiring artists, if you can bring that level of performance to every show in a repertoire ensemble then that is proper theatre. A lesson to the overpriced, star driven West End productions. This dynamite show is in repertoire until 28th September. I may just drive down and catch it again.
