5,159 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Feb 23, 2018 13:58:40 GMT
I think we can assume it won't be Emma Stephens!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2018 12:58:18 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2018 13:22:24 GMT
How can you call that cast "underwhelming" when you've got little Anthony Murray from 'Brookside', half the cast of 'Our House' AND Bobby 'Orville's Song' Crush all schlepping round the provinces to the sounds of BBC favourite Sir Cliff Richard? Underwhelming indeed. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2018 13:59:19 GMT
haha I love that you can now include productions you weren't in as credits! |
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1,827 posts
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Post by stevej678 on Apr 16, 2018 14:06:03 GMT
I love that one of the female characters is called Female Character.
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1,827 posts
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Post by stevej678 on Sept 13, 2018 10:00:26 GMT
Caught the UK tour of this in Chester last night.
This was my second visit to Storyhouse after A Little Night Music in the summer and it's like a different theatre in its 'receiving show' configuration. A great venue all round. Exceptionally friendly and helpful staff too!
As for the show, I really enjoyed it. It's pure fluff, of course, but there's a vibrancy and enthusiasm to the performances, married with some spectacular choreography, which makes it almost impossible not to succumb to the fun and charm of it all long before the marathon finale.
The songs suit Ray Quinn's voice well and he's suitably charismatic as Don. Sophie Matthew (fresh from the recent Our House tour) sparkles as Barbara. Her facial expressions (not to mention lovely vocals) make her quite captivating to watch and there's terrific chemistry between her and Ray.
As the female trio of singers, Alice Baker, Laura Marie Benson and Gabby Antrobus deliver some terrific harmonies and solo vocals and get plenty of laughs from their exchanges with each other and the boys.
There's so many high-energy dance routines that the pace feels pretty relentless at times, with costume changes for the hardworking ensemble happening thick and fast.
The main thing which lets the show down is the set (or rather the almost total lack of it). The famous red bus looks reasonably impressive but it's a good job because there's very limited other scenery or props to speak of, with just a black cloth across the rear of the stage for most of the evening and sliding Dreamboats and Petticoats style artwork to the sides. No matter how many turns, flashing headlights and beeps the bus makes, it doesn't really distract from the absence of any scenery to help convey the changing locations as the road trip progresses.
This frustration aside, however, the cast, choreography and music ensure that Summer Holiday still delivers an enjoyable evening of feel-good escapism. The enthusiasm and energy on stage was infectious. It's cheesier than a Posh Cheddar from Pret but I can't imagine many in the audience were expecting anything different. Even the ushers found their Dancing Shoes and were on their feet clapping along for the five-song encore!
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