Review: Dreamboats and Miniskirts – at the Festival Theatre, Malvern, from Monday, October 20 to Saturday, October 25, 2014.

HOW many more could there be?

Here we’ve moved on from ‘Petticoats’ and Buddy and co, and progressed to the early 1960s in this latest offering from the Dreamboats stable. If audience reaction is anything to go by there could and should be plenty more to come.

An opening night full house was totally absorbed and energised as the sounds from Merseyside took over the music world – ably assisted by the ‘northern sound’.

Mini-skirts is a natural follow-up as Bobby and Laura, Ray and Donna and Norman and Sue follow their dream for musical stardom. The storyline may not be a strong one but it is a great vehicle for reviving the magic of that huge shift in musical tastes and performance.

Bill Kenwright productions are usually a guarantee of a quality show with a hugely talented cast and that’s exactly what was on show. With the music played live under the direction of Michael Kantola it makes for a vibrantly lively and versatile performance that was enhanced by the talents of Chloe Edwards-Wood on tenor sax and clarinet and Charlotte Peak on bass sax and flute.

The whole show moves on at a stonking pace as the cast rattle off plenty of hit songs of the early 60s such as When Will I Be Loved?, I Only Want to be With You, It’s In His Kiss and Handy Man.

It’s a wonderful blast from the past that will appeal not only to those who grew up with that music but also their sons and daughters because it has that special feel-good factor to energise and revitalise body and soul.

Bring on the next! Maybe Dreamboats and Culottes......?

VRW