It is, perhaps, hard to understand that this story is based on true events - a Bible-belt town in the USA which, in 1980, still had a ban on dancing - eventually overthrown by a high school class determined to have a prom. From this strange story came a film and then this stage musical with some fabulous songs like Footloose, I Need a Hero and Let's Hear It For the Boys.
This new tour is bright, shiny and brash, just as it should be! The cast provide high energy performances that keep the story moving at pace. There are lead characters in this but it is essentially an ensemble piece as the cast all play the instruments on stage as part of the action and provide, particularly the three girls, a backing band to many songs.
Darren Day as Rev. Moore, has a great voice and produces some really emotional songs and also provides a genuinely credible performance in the "acting" sections. Jake Quickenden is a highly comedic Willard as the part requires and Joshua Hawkins as Ren certainly shows that he can't keep still". Ariel is played by Lucy Munden in her professional debut - I think we will hear much more of her in the years to come, a confident and professional stage presence and a lovely voice.
This is a really good musical, both uplifting and moving - if the company can keep up this energy for the whole tour it is going to be a huge success!
