Waterloo East Theatre – until 2 June 2019
Reviewed by Alex Sykes
4****
Set on an Australian T.V set, Summer Street tells the story of four actors who were once big stars and well known who have faded into obscurity but are given a second chance.
The opening scene is set in the 1990s, and 3 of the 4 actors have their characters killed off in strange ways, including a plague that only kills men, a plane hitting a high building and an earthquake that leaves only one survivor. Fast forward to 2003 and out of the four actors only one, Steph (Julie Clare) is still acting. Bruce (Simon Snashall) is a divorced alcoholic, Paul (Myke Cotton) is a hippy and Angie (Sarah-Louise Young) is working in a local supermarket.
The four are invited back to the show for a reunion episode by the unseen executive producer. The four cast members all reminisce about what they have been up to since the show ended whilst also rehearsing for the soap. Although Steph quits, she returns after Paul tells her that he still loves her, referring to the relationship they had in the 1990s.
However things take an unexpected twist when it turns out that Steph owns the show and instead of relaunching Summer Street she has decided to make it into a reality T.V programme. The remaining cast
eventually come around to the idea and Summer Street is relaunched in the new format.
The cast work well together and the songs fit with the story, both in the soap opera and out of it. The set works well as wooden crates are moved to represent beds, cars, dressing rooms and an abandoned mine. The costumes are also simple, with accessories or wigs used to show the different characters.
Andrew Norris, the producer, writer and director, makes the plot line easy to follow with lots of jokes keeping the audience laughing. A special mention to Pogo, the toy dog, who plays Pogo the Summer Street dog, who is just as important as the rest of the cast.