REVIEW
Southend Operatic and Dramatic Society present
FOOTLOOSE
Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea, Essex
24-27 April 2024
Southend Operatic and Dramatic Society present
FOOTLOOSE
Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea, Essex
24-27 April 2024
Most people will be familiar with the 1984 film version of Footloose starring Kevin Bacon as Ren, the kid from Chicago who moves to a small farming town with his mother and not only has to adjust to life at a new high school but also has to come to terms with the harsh rules brought upon the young folk of the town, by the town’s preacher, which enforces a ban on dancing. The film was a huge box office hit and songs from the film, Footloose by Kenny Loggins, Holding Out for a Hero and Let’s Hear it for the Boy were radio favourites.
Southend Operatic and Dramatic Society (SODS) have brought the stage version of Footloose to the Palace Theatre this week and have delivered a show that is pumped so full of high energy and enthusiasm you can’t fail to have a great time.
SODS seem to have had a surge of new members of late and this may have something to do with the refreshing new dynamic of the society. It’s always good to see new faces and this show has a great mixture of old and new to push the production into higher realms. Staging is fairly simplistic and so it is down to colourful costumes and the performers to carry the show along. This is done in abundance alongside some expert lighting and sound which is vital for a successful show. Kudos to the tech team here.
There are some very well defined characters in this production and straight off the bat, Chris Higginson as Ren is a delight. This guy can really dance; and I mean really dance. This is the perfect show for him to show off his many breathtaking dance skills - move over Gene Kelly. He even gets to wear rollerskates and with the rake on that Palace Theatre stage, let me tell you that really is no mean feat!
There are plenty of true characters in this show, all of them pretty well defined and Rusty, Arleen and Wendy Jo played by Charlotte Bedford, Scarlett Reeve and Amelie Wright are a point in case trio. These three actors have not only gelled well as performers but also with their musical harmonies. They produce some lovely melodies throughout and are a joy to watch. Charlotte Bedford as Rusty in particular shows off great comedy bones in some lovely scenes with Charlie Evans-Rouse who plays the love-shy Willard and her vocals in Let’s Hear it For the Boy almost steals the show. Again, Charlie’s interpretation of Willard is humorous as well as beautifully endearing and his Mama Says number is delightful.
Eleasha Hammond plays Ariel with a huge amount of sass and sex appeal initially, but as we begin to understand her character and the reasons she acts the way she does, you can see the underlying girl within. She also shows a good rapport with Ren in their scenes together and also alongside Jonny Buxton who plays her father, the Reverend Moore. Ariel, Vi (Jess Byford) and Ethel (Sarah Mayes) share a lovely song in Learning to Be Silent.
With a show like Footloose the highlights are always going to be the dance routines and choreographer, Hannah Bartlett, has done the most amazing job with this cast with some really polished routines throughout., Likewise Director, Holly Hallam, who has spotted every opportunity in the script to bring out the energy, humour and pathos from all of her cast members. You can sense that the cast know they are in safe hands and are brimming with confidence that this show they are in is a goodun.
All costumes look fabulous and providing a great sound in the orchestra pit is James Green who has worked well with the principals and ensemble to produce a great sound and provides great musicianship from the orchestra.
The storyline moves along nicely with Ren finding his (dancing) feet and friends within the community and eventually confronting the Reverend over his unreasonable rules and discovering that they both have demons to confront and losses to come to terms with.
This show has really been put together fantastically well and the ensemble look great and work hard throughout, although I couldn't help but notice a couple of questionable wigs on certain cast members that I found, shall we say, a little distracting; but ultimately this is a fabulous feel good, high energy show that can’t fail to have audiences tapping their feet and leaving the theatre with big smiles on their faces.
This is one of the best Southend Operatic Society shows I’ve seen in a while. Don’t miss it.
Review: Kim Tobin
Southend Operatic and Dramatic Society (SODS) have brought the stage version of Footloose to the Palace Theatre this week and have delivered a show that is pumped so full of high energy and enthusiasm you can’t fail to have a great time.
SODS seem to have had a surge of new members of late and this may have something to do with the refreshing new dynamic of the society. It’s always good to see new faces and this show has a great mixture of old and new to push the production into higher realms. Staging is fairly simplistic and so it is down to colourful costumes and the performers to carry the show along. This is done in abundance alongside some expert lighting and sound which is vital for a successful show. Kudos to the tech team here.
There are some very well defined characters in this production and straight off the bat, Chris Higginson as Ren is a delight. This guy can really dance; and I mean really dance. This is the perfect show for him to show off his many breathtaking dance skills - move over Gene Kelly. He even gets to wear rollerskates and with the rake on that Palace Theatre stage, let me tell you that really is no mean feat!
There are plenty of true characters in this show, all of them pretty well defined and Rusty, Arleen and Wendy Jo played by Charlotte Bedford, Scarlett Reeve and Amelie Wright are a point in case trio. These three actors have not only gelled well as performers but also with their musical harmonies. They produce some lovely melodies throughout and are a joy to watch. Charlotte Bedford as Rusty in particular shows off great comedy bones in some lovely scenes with Charlie Evans-Rouse who plays the love-shy Willard and her vocals in Let’s Hear it For the Boy almost steals the show. Again, Charlie’s interpretation of Willard is humorous as well as beautifully endearing and his Mama Says number is delightful.
Eleasha Hammond plays Ariel with a huge amount of sass and sex appeal initially, but as we begin to understand her character and the reasons she acts the way she does, you can see the underlying girl within. She also shows a good rapport with Ren in their scenes together and also alongside Jonny Buxton who plays her father, the Reverend Moore. Ariel, Vi (Jess Byford) and Ethel (Sarah Mayes) share a lovely song in Learning to Be Silent.
With a show like Footloose the highlights are always going to be the dance routines and choreographer, Hannah Bartlett, has done the most amazing job with this cast with some really polished routines throughout., Likewise Director, Holly Hallam, who has spotted every opportunity in the script to bring out the energy, humour and pathos from all of her cast members. You can sense that the cast know they are in safe hands and are brimming with confidence that this show they are in is a goodun.
All costumes look fabulous and providing a great sound in the orchestra pit is James Green who has worked well with the principals and ensemble to produce a great sound and provides great musicianship from the orchestra.
The storyline moves along nicely with Ren finding his (dancing) feet and friends within the community and eventually confronting the Reverend over his unreasonable rules and discovering that they both have demons to confront and losses to come to terms with.
This show has really been put together fantastically well and the ensemble look great and work hard throughout, although I couldn't help but notice a couple of questionable wigs on certain cast members that I found, shall we say, a little distracting; but ultimately this is a fabulous feel good, high energy show that can’t fail to have audiences tapping their feet and leaving the theatre with big smiles on their faces.
This is one of the best Southend Operatic Society shows I’ve seen in a while. Don’t miss it.
Review: Kim Tobin
For more information about Footloose The Musical, go to www.southendtheatres.org.uk or call the box office on 0343 310 0030.
Visit www.sodsofficial.com to find out more about Southend Operatic and Dramatic Society, which was founded in 1890 and is one of the oldest amateur musical theatre companies in the country.
Visit www.sodsofficial.com to find out more about Southend Operatic and Dramatic Society, which was founded in 1890 and is one of the oldest amateur musical theatre companies in the country.