Another week and another show, and this week was the Shanklin Theatre on the Isle of Wight. This 615-seat theatre is the largest on the island and dates from 1879. It was going to be demolished in 2008, but a community trust of local people saved it and now it boasts a programme of over 150 performances a year, including top names in comedy, dance and music.
Theatretrain Isle of Wight gave 4 performances of Footloose with two different casts of performers. The night we went, the theatre was full of excited families.
Julie has been the Company Director for 25 years and has a team of creatives among whom Traci has been there for the whole time, and Hannah nearly all. That is a very special long-term loyalty.
A musical born of a film, Footloose explores a country town in the US where the preacher has banned dancing because years before, 4 local lads, including his son, were lost when their car went into the river after a night out. But young people like to dance and express themselves so there is a conflict between the parents and their young people.
There was a large cast who brought the story to life against powerful graphic projections that set the scene. It feels wrong to single out people in such an ensemble production, but 15-year-old Lydia played the lead character, Ren. That’s a girl playing the lead male role, but it worked so well, and after a minute or two, you just accepted it, and her energetic dance skills and her cheery, no-nonsense acting style led the way. She made you feel the turmoil and anger expressed through dance. Emily played Vi, the preacher’s wife. Here was a young actor who had a strong inner life; you felt she wasn’t so much acting as living a life she believed in – her unassuming performance drew you in with its sensitivity. When she cracked and helped change her husband’s point of view, you felt she was voicing the conscience of the town. Roscoe played Willard, the country bumpkin with a big smile. His shyness and embarrassment about dancing were beautifully changed when he suddenly learnt that he could take to the floor and express himself.
A happy ending ensued, and everyone raved and moved and line danced like there was no tomorrow and at the curtain calls, they even came into the audience to get us to join in.
A couple of students are moving on. It’s sad when students leave. The younger ones look up to them so much, and they feel their loss. Ohh! But then it’s time for the next tier to step up and replace them. They are big shoes to fill at first, but fill them they will, and the work continues.
Take a bow, team TT IOW!
