Footloose the musical

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Pied Piper Productions

Footloose Review

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A totally predictable and very episodic storyline this may be but Pied Piper [Productions] do things so well! This was a very slick production with well presented music and excellent characterization.

Rhys Whiteside made a most convincing Ren although his disagreements with the authority figures occasionally seemed unnecessarily forceful rather than just forthright. He stood up well against Joe Hill who, as Willard Hewitt, really shone. Joe gave an excellent performance and it was difficult to take one's eyes from him whenever he was on stage.

Melinda Lawrence and Mike MacKenzie were quite splendid as The Reverend and Mrs. Moore. They conveyed admirably the crisis of their own precarious relationship as parents stricken by tragedy and stressed by the behaviour of their daughter. Debbie McLean as their daughter, Ariel, gave an excellent performance. She and Rhys worked together so well. They were, arguably, at their best in the "under the train bridge" scenes.

The minor roles were all excellent: Notably Rusty, an excellent scatty characterization by Elleyn Hinton; Betty Blast, a delightful little cameo by Samantha Matthew and Ren's mother, Ether, very sensitively played by Debbie Dillon.

It almost goes without saying that the musical highlights were "Holding out for a Hero", "Mama Says" and "Footloose". The Band led well giving a balanced performance and the choreography was all that could be wished for. The sets were all admirable and the stage crew are to be congratulated on their efficient handling of the remarkable number of scene changes. Lighting and sound were well handled although the sound did seem, occasionally, to have variable volume.

This was an entirely enjoyable evening as was witnessed by the warmth of the reception at the final curtain. My wife and I loved it.

NODA