OPERA HOUSE, MANCHESTER – UNTIL SATURDAY 5TH MARCH 2022
REVIEWED BY MIA BOWEN
5*****
Footloose is a 1998 musical based on the screen sensation starring Kevin Bacon. When the film was released in 1984, it became the highest crossing February release in US film history. The soundtrack album knocked Michael Jackson’s Thriller off the number one spot and went to top album charts all over the world. I caught up with the current UK Touring stage production when it touched down at the Opera House. This adaptation is pure fun, full of passion and energy, containing pop rock hits like ‘Almost paradise’, ‘Let’s hear it for the boy’, ‘Holding out for a hero’ and ‘Footloose’.
The musical tells the story of city boy Ren McCormack (Joshua Hawkins) and his mother Ethel (Geri Allen) who has moved to the small town of Bomont in the rural Southwest. At school Ren befriends Willard (Jake Quickenden) and learns that the town council has banned dancing and rock music within the town boundary. Ren shakes things up by falling in love with Ariel (Lucy Munden), the daughter of Rev Moore (Darren Day), the main influence behind the ban. As well as teenage angst, Footloose is all about fun and the carefree nature of being a teen, which of course is never fully appreciated at the time.
It wouldn’t be Footloose without spectacular stage dancing and Matt Cole deserves a special mention as his choreography did not disappoint, it was demanding but stunningly executed. Every time a choreographed musical number ended the audience broke out in a booming applause and loud cheers. This response was also due to the cast giving the whole production an air of exhilaration, not only did they act, sing, dance and move sets around, they played multiple instruments whilst on roller skates!
Footloose is a solid piece of toe tapping entertainment, literally bringing a cheering audience to their feet