Review: Save The Last Dance For Me at the Churchill Theatre (From News Shopper)

Review: Save The Last Dance For Me at the Churchill Theatre

9:43am Wednesday 18th January 2012 in Stage By Rachel Conner

Directed by Bill Kenwright and Keith Stachan this new musical is energetic and bound to get audiences smiling along.

Following the success of Dreamboats and Petticoats, which was brought together by the same team, the show does not disappoint.

Filled with “music and magic”, a little bit of innuendo and a lot of Rock ‘n Roll Save the Last Dance For Me is a an enjoyable romp through 1960s England.

Set in the seaside town of Lowestoft, teenagers Marie and Jennifer have freedom on their minds as they embark on their first caravan holiday without their parents.

After meeting a couple of US Army officers, the girls quickly start having some fun, and younger sister Marie wastes no time in falling in love with charming Tennessee man Curtis.

Though the plot is slightly one-dimensional - a simple love story with a minor glitch and a happy ending - the light hearted feel of the musical and the references to the issues of the age - racism, the cold war and the sexual revolution - create a snapshot of the sixties.

The set and costumes embrace the 1960s vibe and provide a perfect backdrop for the fast-paced score.

The vocals are wonderful, with particularly strong performances from the male leads.

Megan Jones, playing sixth former Marie, is a convincing lead as she beams with the hope and innocence of a teenager embarking on her first holiday romance.

Her elder sister, played by Hannah Fredericks, is much more knowing and provides plenty of laughs with her cheeky one-liners.

Full of charm and nostalgia Save the Last Dance For Me is bound to be a hit. The show runs until Saturday January 21.