 |  | Footloose
Theatre Royal, Plymouth
Thurs 5th - Sat 14th February 2004
Tickets: £6 - £25
Box Office: 01752 267222
REBEL WITH A CAUSE
Fast and furious from the opening, Footloose is based on the true story of a poor hicksville town, called Bomount, that has banned the sinful pleasure of dancing!
Fresh from the "windy city", teenage hunk of hormones, Ren wants to rebel and shake things up. He cant stand still! He wants to do the forbidden! No not drugs, no not take an gun to his classmates... he just wants to shake his booty! Chris Jarvis in the lead role of Ren McCormack is a wonderfully athletic, bouncy, light on his feet dancer.
His footwork would have pleased Mohammed Ali, Michael Jackson and Gene Kelly! Not bad going!
Personally I loved his dancing and performance but found it a bit lacking in sex appeal (despite his pelvic thrusts) as he didnt have any great outfits to wear - just a tight white T-shirt and ripped jeans would have been so much better if somewhat predictable. I definitely needed to see more of his physique!  Typical for this type of musical, theres a need to convince you how great the show is by making the opening just a bit too frenetic; the band in the pit are blasting it out, "Animal" is on the drums and all the kids on stage are singing and dancing up a storm. But it seemed just a bit overplayed. Loud is not always Best.
The set is a fusion of clapperboard meets industrial, with sliding back panels and a versatile bridge. Dry ice pumps out, mirror balls flash and twinkle all round the auditorium and a cute yellow VW Beetle rolls on stage.
In one scene the guys even sing into petrol pump hoses...oh! how original, never seen that before.
WHERE HAVE ALL THE GOOD MEN GONE?
The original film had a fantastic soundtrack and I was waiting for the bit hits like Jim Steinmans "Holding out for a Hero" which Bonnie Tyler had rasped and screamed and made her signature tune.
When this "Hero" came it turned into a sleazefest with the females ripping off their coats to reveal slutty frocks and fishnets as they clambered up onto a bar to sing in what looked like a pastiche of a Girls Aloud video....not sexy!
Costume designer Andy Edwards didnt sparkle even though some of the fabrics did!
I felt as if so many parts of this production seemed laboured and lacking in passion. The cast certainly work their butts off and gave 100% - but it clunked.
OK, its very new. Perhaps it will find a pace and a level and become a classic, but I m not holding my breath.... although Line Dancing fans might find it entertaining.
Footloose
Theatre Royal, Plymouth
Thurs 5th - Sat 14th February 2004
Tickets: £6 - £25
Box Office: 01752 267222
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Where have all the good men gone?
