If you're anything like me, you will aim to see at least four or five professional musical theatre performances a year, both in Birmingham and The Black Country as well as the West End.
I'd like to think, as a fan of quality singing and acting I know what excites me, so imagine my delight when I was given the opportunity to watch a musical production, on my doorstep, by a professional West End cast!
Erm.....hang on. Seems this wasn't a professional West End Cast! This was a group of 9-18 year old's from Bilston Youth Operatic Company with their performance of Dean Pitchford and Tom Snow's 'Footloose'. You'll have to forgive my confusion as the cast I saw on stage were professional in every sense of the word. The whole company electrified the stage from beginning to end with an energy that would give a Duracell Bunny a run for it's money.
Footloose is loosely based on the 1984 film and tells the story of Ren McCormack, a teenager raised in Chicago, played amazingly by 15 year old Joe Riley. He moves with his mother, played by Lauren Sweet, to the small town of Bomont to live with his aunt and uncle. Ren befriends Willard Hewitt, an extrentic character played by the hilarious Ben Evans (equipped with actual broken toe!) and from him learns the city council has banned dancing and rock music. He soon begins to fall for a rebellious teenage girl named Ariel, performed beautifully by Charlotte Mason who's voice wouldn't be out of place at the London Palladium.
Ariel's boyfriend, Chuck Cranston, played by Issac Tilt (in one of his first ever acting roles) isn't very pleasant and is abusive towards her. He doesn't have the blessing of her strict father, played by one of the most talented 14 year olds I've seen on stage in a long time, Jacob Kohli, who is the reverend pastor of the local church.
Rev. Moore does not trust Ren and to prevent his daughter from becoming corrupt he grounds her, forbidding her to see him. Ren and his classmates want to do away with the no-dancing law and have a senior prom. He takes Ariel, Willard, and Ariel's best friend Rusty who was played the exceptionally talented Katie Harrison, to a country bar to experience the joy and freedom of dancing, but once there, Willard is unable to dance and gets into a jealous fight with a man who dances with Rusty. Later, Ren teaches Willard to dance.
This is by far one of the best performances by teenagers I have seen and thats, in part, down to the talent backstage especially Producer and Choreographer, Laura Canadine. Under the musical directorship of Sam Deakin and his orchestra this is a night of musical theatre that you cannot afford to miss. The Black Country should be proud that we have such talented young people who are destined for greater things.
You can see Footloose at The Dormston Mill Theatre, Sedgley until Saturday 8th April 2017. Tickets are available on the door or by calling 07798 792248. Further information about the Company can be found at www.bilston-operatic.co.uk
