Performance

VenueThe Orchard
Other spaces: Orchard West
TownDartford
CountyKent
From20th September 2004
To25th September 2004
WhenMon-Thu 19:45. Fri 17:00, 20:30. Sat 14:30, 19:45
PricesFrom £16.00. To £27.50.
What is currently on at The Orchard (V677)

Footloose

FootlooseT1467476376
Footloose centres on city boy Ren who moves with his family to a small town in middle America where rock music and dancing are outlawed for religious reasons. Sparks fly when Ren and the minister's teenage daughter rebel.
Book by Walter Bobbie
Book by Dean Pitchford
Music Tom Snow
Lyrics Dean Pitchford


Archive :: production:T1467476376, musical:S0137294509, venue:V677
Current production:Work

Production details

Reviews

Overall: 4.00
USER (17Feb04): ‘Footloose’, The Hit Broadway Musical Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Monday 16 February 2004 Opening night, 1100 people in the audience and ‘wow’ this new musical had hit town. Based on the successful 1980s movie starring Kevin Bacon this brand new production of ‘Footloose’ has just embarked upon a long national tour with the option of a West End transfer. The story may be simple, teens overcome adult repression through the will to dance, and a clash with religion in small town USA but the energy of this fast-paced musical seen through the eyes of main character and new boy on the block Ren McCormack played by Chris Jarvis is fast paced with an urgency that demands your attention. There are plenty of musical numbers, from the opening ‘Footloose’ full of movement and a foretaste to the style of the show which majors heavily on dance, exploiting well the talents of its key players. The classic ‘Holding out for a Hero’, ‘Let’s Hear it for the Boy’ and ‘Almost Paradise’. There are additionally softer and more reflective numbers such as ‘Learning to be Silent’ and ‘Can You Find it in Your Heart’ both performed by the adults played with style by Marilyn Cutts (Vi Moore) a lady with a great musical theatre pedigree and the well known actor Oliver Tobias who is equally well cast as the blinkered Reverend Moore. As with all big production number musicals this is a team effort and led by its star the highly talented dancer Chris Jarvis who deserves great praise for his non-stop performance. It also includes some strong individual performances, Rachael Wooding as Reverend Moore's daughter Ariel and local rough guy Chuck played by Richard Taylor Woods who make the most of their secret and sizzling relationship by giving a stirring performance of’ The Girl Gets Around’. Taylor James is perfect as the slow-witted Willard, friend of Ren, who only comes to life once he gets the urge to dance and amazingly shows everyone just what he can do. Directed by Paul Kerryson and with choreography by Karen Bruce this is the kind of show that will no doubt achieve a huge following as it tours the UK well into the summer and I have a feeling that ‘full houses’ like tonight’s could become somewhat the norm. Clive Fuller 4

Add a Review


The name you give will be stored and displayed with this review


Company

Producer Mark Goucher
Producer Michael Rose
Producer Tristan Baker
Producer Gary Gunas (for Clear Channel Entertainment)
Director Paul Kerryson
Choreographer Karen Bruce
Music Meat Loaf
Performer Chris Jarvis
Performer Verity Betham
Performer Oliver Tobias
Performer Marilyn Cutts
Performer Taylor James
Performer Jenifer Meldrum
Performer Alan Bradshaw
Performer Cassidy Janson
Performer Julie McKenna
Performer Lucy Newton
Performer Tim Newman
Performer Craig Pinder
Performer Sally Bayes
CORONAVIRUS: All UK venues closed on 16th March 2020, restrictions were lifted on 19th July 2021. Please note that iUKTDb archive listings between March 2020 and July 2021 may not be accurate as we did not receive details of all rescheduled and cancelled shows.

Listings powered by Dynamic Listing Ltd
Mastodon X - Twitter Multidomain certificate installed
© Dynamic Listing Ltd, UK. 1995-2024