Salisbury Playhouse – until 27 October 2018
Review by Nicky Wyatt
4****
Lively, non stop, energetic toe tapping show that makes you laugh out loud.
Salad Days written by Dorothy Reynolds and Julian Slade is a crazy and dare I say thin story line. Set in the 1950’s with post war excitement taking over from the worry of war and rations. A young couple finishing uni and setting off into a world of expectation, somethings don’t change, today’s youngsters are just the same. Timothy ( Mark Anderson) and Jane (Jessica Croll) meet at the train station after their last day in uni, it’s clear they are attracted to each other and are sweetly flirtatious with each other, singing their song We Said We Wouldn’t Look Back. They agree to meet in a few days time secretly as their parents have other ideas for them.
The totally fabulous Wendi Peters belts out some strong notes and can easily be heard above the rest of the cast. Funny lines ooze out of this show, which have the audience chuckling away throughout.
Timothy and Jane meet up and share the news that their parents have plans for them which include a coming party of eligible bachelors and list of interviews with various uncles for Timothy. They decide to usurp the parental plans and get married and for him to take a job of his choice.
Just as they decide this a tramp with a piano on wheels comes along and asks them to look after it for a month. It’s a magic piano which makes people dance! They have no control once the music starts.
The piano is the focus of this crazy show. It seems even those that think they can’t play it can and those that can’t dance can! There are some fantastic high energy dance routines in this show from waltzing policeman to Charleston routines. As it unfolds we learn right at the end that the tramp who owns the piano is one of Timothys many uncles but not the one he was meant to get a job from, he’s known as the black sheep. Ultimately everyone’s plans are fulfilled. I really
enjoyed this show, It’s great fun for all ages. The cast are so energetic and clearly enjoying themselves throughout.