Bury St Edmunds: Musical has an array of great song and dance routines
The Irving Stage Company stunning production of Footloose at the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds - Credit: Andy Abbott
Footloose, The Irving Stage Company, Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds
BOUNDLESS energy, bags of enthusiasm and a bucket load of talent is evident on stage for the latest production by this long standing theatre group.
Littered with well known songs and thrilling dance routines that take your breath away Footloose is a triumph.
The cast of the amateur thespians throw themselves body and soul into this production which had the audience at Tuesday’s opening night tapping their feet and clapping their hands.
Based on the 1984 film starring Kevin Bacon, the stage musical of Footloose opened on Broadway in 1998 and ran for 700 performances and tells the tale of a city boy moving out into the country and coming to terms with the sometimes disconnected way of life in his new, adopted town.
He eventually wins them over but not before having to overcome a sequence of setbacks.
There’s strong performances in the main characters of Chicago boy Ren McCormack, played by Brian Carmack, and the girl who steals his heart Ariel Moore, in the shape of Josie May Harrington.
Most Read
- 1 Suffolk mum diagnosed with terminal cancer after beating disease twice before
- 2 Interactive map reveals the Suffolk postcodes with the highest Covid rates
- 3 Andy's Angles: Five observations following Ipswich Town's Bolton loss
- 4 Teenage girl grabbed by man in seaside town
- 5 Ipswich Town transfer rumour: Luton join race for £13k a week Walton
- 6 Investigations continue after car crashed into home
- 7 Pressure waves of Hunga Tonga volcanic eruption felt across East Anglia
- 8 Motorist was three times the drink drive limit in Stowmarket
- 9 Two Magpies Bakery set to open in Woodbridge after rapid revamp of store
- 10 'Dishonest to the core' burglar jailed for four years
Dan Bunker, as the repressive Rev Shaw Moore, the influential local minister who is the spiritual life of the community of Bomont, is totally convincing in the part with his powerful voice and overwhelming presence.
While Ben Musgrove, as Ren’s new- found friend Willard Hewitt, is a pure joy with his bashful, yet forthright views ... because “mamma” certainly put him on the straight and narrow.
There’s a great supporting cast and chorus all bought together by a clutch of musicians led by their musical director Mark Jefferson.
The show runs until Saturday with performances nightly at 7.30pm and a 2.30pm matinée on Saturday.
Ticket prices range from £8 to £19 and are available from the box office on 01284 769505 or online at www.theatreroyal.org
