COME DANCING to 25th October 2008.
COME DANCING
Story, Music & Lyrics by Ray Davies. Book by Ray Davies & Paul Sirett
Theatre Royal Stratford East, Stratford London E15 1BN to 25th October 2008.
Tue – Sat 7.30pm Mat Sat 3pm.
Runs 2hr 10mins One interval.
TICKETS: 0208 534 0310.
www.stratfordeast.com
Review: Geoff Ambler 24th September 2008.
Ray Davies breathes life into Ilford’s Palais and brings memories back from the 50’s
East Stratford’s Theatre Royal has enjoyed remarkable success in recent years, attracting phenomenal local audiences across all ages, taking risks producing new shows and transferring several to more western London theatres, most to critical acclaim. Now the long awaited musical from the lead singer of the 60’s super group The Kinks, Ray Davies, is set to continue its reputation for community relevant and engaging fun theatre.
Davies looks back across decades conjuring a brief tumultuous period from his youth in the 50’s. It was a period when society was changing at a pace greater than at any time before and the local dance halls, which were soon to become cinemas, shops and fond memories, were still where families spent evenings together and ballroom dancing was performed for pleasure rather than perma-grinning, perma-tanned competition.
Davies wrote the story, music, lyrics, co wrote the book and stars as well as narrating the piece and the overtly sentimental story can be forgiven, indeed it is a pleasure looking back at this time through his eyes, songs and the characters he has conjured from history and reminiscences.
Davies places his classic number Come Dancing in the context of a period when his Big Sister Julie was allowed to celebrate her birthday at the Palais. The youngest of three sisters, Julie had battled and survived polio as a child which had left her unable to do the thing she most wanted, to dance, however it gifted her with the strength to overcome obstacles and take on life. Gemma Salter’s Julie is a feisty joy, bringing depth and breathing life into her co-stars sister. Getting close to Delroy Atkinson’s Hamilton, fresh from Jamaica, Julie ignites new tensions and a stabbing brings a darkness to the party.
Lively performances from Katherine James and Katey Munroe, as the other sisters and Alasdair Harvey’s Frankie, the Palais’ troubled compere, lead the fine cast.
Davies’ past, filled with family, friends and the stories they shared come to life briefly, albeit in one dimension. They dance, fight, love, sing and laugh and with nostalgic choreography and the all pervading refrains of Come Dancing, which teases throughout the other numbers, Ray Davies briefly awakens and then shares his family, through memories, music and Julie gets to dance.
Hamilton: Delroy Atkinson
Rita: Wendy Mae Brown
Arthur: Bradley Clarkson
Storyteller: Ray Davies
Tosher: Marcus Ellard
Basil: Anthony Flaum
Frankie: Alasdair Harvey
Annie: Samantha Hughes
Brenda: Katherine James
Sid: Stephen Lloyd
Rose: Katey Munroe
Julie: Gemma Salter
Alf: Tony Timberlake
Director: Kerry Michael
Designers: Harriet Barsby & Jenny Tiramani
Musical Director: Robert Hyman
Choreographer: Omar Okai
Associate Director & Casting: Kate William
2008-09-29 11:21:09