**** (4 stars)
“Visually Awe Inspiring”
Beyond Broadway Experience mark there tenth anniversary production by turning to Footloose a partial juke box musical debuting in 1988 with music by Tom Snow (amongst others) and lyrics by Dean Pitchford and a book by Pitchford and Walter Bobbie and they deliver a production that is visually Awe Inspiring.
Based on the 1984 motion picture featuring Kevin Bacon it tells the story of Ren McCormark a teenager from inner city Chicago who at his mother behest moves to Baumont Utah, where he encounters a community still struggling with a tragedy that has led the towns minister, the Revered Shaw, to ban dancing it’s all its forms. What follows is a battle of wills, humanity’s forgiveness and ultimate redemption.
Its fertile material and one that’s popular with many companies but can it work for Beyond Broadway who field a massive production that in captures all 17 lead roles but also adds a 183 strong ensemble cast which delivers many awe inducing moments on the eye but equally for its awesomeness it becomes a moving mass of humanity on its own.
Performances across the board are uniformly excellent with directors Murray Grant, Drew Gowland and Malcolm J Burnett producing a well drilled company that deliver every inch of Grant’s, Laura Proudfoot’s and Sarah Kerr’s inspired choreography with polished pizazz. Bobby Duncan’s “Ren” is everything and more that you could wish for with a gorgeous voice and excellent physicality and he plays well against Rhianne McAllister’s Aerial Moore. She delivers beautiful vocals and a unique turn on the character. Special mention must go to Harry Aspinall as Rev Shaw Moore. He truly takes the character on a journey of emotional discovery yet gives him a rich understanding heart. Aspinall has truly grown into a very accomplished performer.
For all that’s good about the principals its when the rest of the 200 strong company join the stage that shows the productions power and weakness in equal style. While it beguiling to see such a large company take the stage. The company is so big it becomes a seething mass of humanity and makes individuals hard to pick out. Then again, the extremely large cast is one of the wow factors.
Production wise it’s a breath of fresh air, the decision to blend Neo- Expressionism painted art with the overall production via use of live video screens is an inspired decision that takes the show to a whole new level. This is boosted by Keigan Hawthorn’s excellent lighting design. MM Productions sound design is also on the money and delivers a perfect balance between the cast and musical director Linda Stewart and her 8 strong on-stage band.
This is a Footloose that’s filled with heart but once the audience member accepts just how awesome a large cast looks it does comes across how little so many performers can, actually be used but then again that’s musical theatre in all its glory.
Beyond Broadways production of Footloose raises the bar and never let’s go and that has to be applauded. Wonderful stuff indeed.
Beyond Broadway Experience presents Footloose, Festival Theatre Edinburgh run ended.
ScotsGay Arts 