This is the fourth time I have seen and reviewed this show, the cast changes but the production barely does. After the initial tour I have consistently found this production lacking I'm afraid.
The production follows the film fairly closely but the social sides of the story - integration, class division, abortion, even the emergence of new music and break down of the family - are skated over with throw-away lines that barely register. But then, that is not what the audience goes for I guess if the baying, whistling, giggling and general hoo-ha is any indication. What most of the audience seem to want is bare-chested men and breathless love. Ok, they get that - in fact it is fed to them directly.
Sound quality was a bit off for dialogue, some echo and a rather tinny quality. Pace is frenetic throughout with barely a chance to draw breathe and hardly a piece of stage unfilled. Set leaves nothing to the imagination, in fact, perhaps that is the overall theme - this is film rather than theatre, you are not required to fill in the details, in fact there is simply no room left to do so.
The actorrs work hard, singing and dancing are good but I feel at times they are fighting to keep up with the production's relentless pace and style.
Not my sort of theatre at all