1 November 2011

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FOOTLOOSE is one of these feel-good family musicals which arrive at their inevitably happy ending via a plot which combines foot-stomping dance routines with great songs, some of which have become much-loved stand-alone hits.

The eighties film version was instantly popular, and the subsequent stage adaptation earned four Tony Award nominations.

In choosing Footloose to showcase the considerable talents of its young performers, Act One Beginners did themselves – and their audiences – very proud indeed.

Tim Hewitt has a strong, warm voice and his essential decency as Ren McCormack, the troubled teen unjustly labelled a troublemaker in Dullsville Bomont, made him an immensely likeable lead.

Sophie Karaolis put in a sassy performance as the rebellious preacher’s daughter Ariel Moore, and her Holding Out for A Hero was one of the show’s many highlights.

The Hero in question’s six-pack was another, and Tom Rowlinson’s shirt-ripping reprise in the finale earned roars of appreciation for his finely-chiselled chest.

A great dancer, Sophie also brought a real sense of pathos to her role as a misunderstood daughter rebelling against a father too locked in his own misery to notice hers.

Ian McCheyne and Alexandra Constable both gave touchingly accomplished performances as her grieving parents, and the scene in which they realise how much they still love each other, was a real shiver-down-the-spine-moment. Sweet-faced Katherine Stevens was also well-cast as Ren’s mother, torn between defending her son and wanting to fit into her new life.

There were some lovely moments too from Ariel’s five-strong coterie of giggly girl chums, and Jose Napper as Rusty gave a scene-stealingly terrific rendition of Let’s Hear it for the Boy.

The boy in question was Matt Harris as Willard, always spoiling for a fight, but still too shy to ask a girl to dance, and his endearingly funny portrayal of teenage angst was a delight, as was his Mama Says.

The principals were wonderfully well-served by their ensemble, who were step-perfect in some very tricky dance routines, and some great lighting effects down by the rail road tracks.

And when the entire audience got to its feet for the rip-roaring finale, I think it is fair to say that everyone had had a very good time indeed.