A TRIP back to the decade of disco, flares and dodgy haircuts was on the cards for the audience at South Hill Park for the opening night of East Berkshire Operatic Society (EBOS)’s latest show on Tuesday.
Boogie Nights: The 70s Musical, written by Jon Conway, Shane Ritchie and Terry Morrison, tells the story of rock’n’roll dreamer Roddy, played by Stuart Hayllor, and his long-term on-again/off-again girlfriend Debs (Amy Cowie). The couple, along with their best friends Trish (Kirsty McDougall) and Terry (Ashleigh Wells), while away their weekends at the local club, Boogie Nights, where most of the action unfolds. But while Roddy’s star is on the rise, Debs is looking to settle down, and when she finds out she is pregnant with Roddy’s baby, her life is thrown into turmoil. Can she convince Roddy’s wandering eye that she is the only girl for him? And will he give up on his dreams, or desert his friends in the pursuit of fame? I don’t want to give away the ending, but get ready for a massive twist at the end, I certainly didn’t see it coming.
While the story sounds like a cross between Dirty Dancing and Dreamboats and Petticoats, Boogie Nights manages to hold its own in terms of content and musicality. It is cleverly written, and the monologues between Roddy and the audience are executed perfectly and keep the tone light. There are no awkward lead-ins to songs, and the action is kept at a steady pace throughout, which makes this a very easy show to follow.
First and foremost, Boogie Nights is a musical, but it is also extremely funny, thanks in no small part to the well-appointed cast. Stuart Hayllor plays Jack-the-lad Roddy incredibly well: he is a character that you love to hate, and his rapport and joshing with the audience keeps you on his side. His comic sidekick Terry is brought to life fantastically well by Ashleigh Wells, who fits the musical-comedy genre perfectly. His facial expressions and quick one-liners kept the audience in stitches, and his solo in Sugar Baby Love was a highlight of the evening.
Kirsty McDougall’s Trish was sweet and supportive, just what you would expect of a best friend, while Roddy and Terry’s mate Dean (Daniel Strong) delivered one of the funniest portrayals of Kung-Fu Fighting you are likely to see.
Amy Cowie’s Debs is feisty yet vulnerable, and her voice is one of the strongest in the company. Her personality filled the stage, and she handled the touching moments with a delicacy that was very much needed. Her counterpart Lorraine, the desirable man-eater played by Emily Burton, balanced Debs really well, and Burton’s incredible vocal capabilities stunned the audience on more than occasion. The pair’s duet for Enough is Enough raised goosebumps with their tight harmonies and captivating stage presence.
The staging of the show was also extremely creative. The Wilde Theatre was transformed into a nightclub, complete with roaming bouncers who ensured that everyone was dancing and having a good time. The cast arrived on stage behind an opaque curtain to get everyone in the mood for dancing, and set the tone for the rest of the evening’s fun.
Being the opening night, you would expect a less-than-polished performance, but the only mishaps I noticed were an over-enthusiastic smoke machine, and a pair of flares which proved to be just too funky for one member of the ensemble! But both of these incidents were laughed off by the actors and the audience alike, and only added to the comedy.
With just enough nostalgia, plenty of dazzling costumes and a plethora of brilliant songs, Boogie Nights really does tick every box for a great night out. But beware: you will be walking around with disco tunes stuck in your head for the rest of the week! Miss this and you will certainly miss out.
Boogie Nights is at the Wilde Theatre, South Hill Park, until Saturday. Tickets start at £16, with concessions available. To book visit www.southillpark.org.uk or call the Box Office on 01344 484 123. Photos kindly supplied by www.myworldmyeyes.co.uk.
Watch a trailer for the show below:
