(Cardiff New Theatre Review/Aberystwyth Arts Centre)
Aberystwyth, get ready to cut loose this summer as the 80s phenomenon Footloose is set to hit the Theatr-Y-Werin stage for three weeks in August.
Footloose burst onto the screen in 1984, and starred Kevin Bacon in one of his earliest and most memorable roles as city rebel Ren Mccormack, who brought a dance revolution upon the small bible belt town of Bomont.
Written by Dean Pitchford, his story was loosely based on real life events that occurred in Elmore City, Oklahoma. In the deeply religious town, authorities feared that allowing the teenagers to dance would lead to under age pregnancies and drug and alcohol addictions. The rule had been set in stone for decades and the church were reluctant to lift the ban despite teenage outcry. The young people took matters into their own hands and organized their first school prom following the approval of their school board. Intrigued by the story, Pitchford went on to pen Footloose which became an 80s dance movie icon alongside Flashdance and Dirty Dancing. Footloose featured an Oscar-Nominated soundtrack with the title track receiving a Golden Globe nomination in 1985 for best original song.
In 1998, Pitchford was approached to adapt his screenplay into a stage musical and it has since been performed on Broadway, the West-End and had a number of successful tour runs.
Director Racky Plews 2016 revival is now touring across the UK, recently being performed in Cardiff’s New Theatre and heading to the Aberystwyth Arts Centre in the summer time. Featuring an all star cast including Maureen Nolan as Vi Moore, the put upon wife of the overprotective Rev. Shaw Moore and Gareth Gates as Ren’s well-meaning but socially awkward best friend Willard. Plews production is unique as she showcases how multi-talented her cast are as they perform their roles while playing instruments live on stage from the guitar to the saxophone. This alone makes this production of Footloose incredible, dynamic and worth watching.
Taking on the lead role of Ren is Luke Baker, giving an outstanding and energetic performance. He is very much the leading man with powerful vocals and amazing dance skills. He ensures that the audience believe in him as he fights for the right for freedom. Equally as fantastic is Hannah Price who portrays Ariel, the sheltered daughter of Rev. Shaw Moore. Ariel uses any opportunity to rebel against her father’s repression whether it be dating the bad boy or sneaking off to dances with her girl friends. Price has an exceptional singing voice belting out the shows most popular numbers “Holding out for a Hero” and “Almost Paradise”.
In this production the supporting characters are equally as strong as the leads. Joanna Sawyer plays Ariel’s best friend Rusty who has a “will they/won’t they” romance with Gates’s Willard. Its played for laughs and brings in a light-hearted element to the story. The characters are at the forefront in two of the shows most fun and liveliest scenes “Holding out for a Hero” (which is a real treat for Gates fans!) and “Let’s Hear it for the Boy”. Rusty’s stand out number is however “Somebody’s Eyes” sung as part of a trio with back up characters Urleen (Miracle Chance) and Wendy-Jo (Lauren Storer-Understudy), a mesmerizing 80s infused ballad that heads as a warning to Ren when he first comes to Bomont.
There’s always a reservation when a show features a celebrity name however Gates is brilliant as Willard, playing him as sweet, good-hearted but simple. He generates the most laughs from the audience and shows off his dancing talents in crowd favourite number “Let’s Hear it for the Boy”. His double act and “bromance” with Baker’s Ren is the main highlight.
Complementing the younger cast are Maureen Nolan and Nigel Lister as Ariel’s fearful parents. Nolan performs two powerful ballads beautifully, “Learning to be Silent” in the first half and “Can you find it in your heart?” later in the show, both demonstrating her character as being the voice of reason against her husband’s rigid views.
The revolving set is utilized well throughout the performance and the scene transitions as slickly done. We go from the church setting which is also used as the Moore’s home, to the decaying, urban down town that wreaks of teenage rebellion as well as the typical American style diner. The lighting design is stunning and the choreography is polished. All the musical numbers are guaranteed to be playing in your head long after leaving the theatre.
Footloose is a feel-good, five star production that will have you on the feet by its grand finale.
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Footloose is running from August 10th-27th at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre. Book your tickets at the Box Office on 01970 623232 or follow this link: https://www.aberystwythartscentre.co.uk/theatre/footloose. Lee Brennan of boy band 911 fame will be starring as Willard during the first two weeks.
★★★★★
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Hayley Alice Roberts.
Night at the Musicals 