PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES, Foley, Hardwick and others, New Vic, Newcastle under
Newcastle-under-Lyme
PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES: John Foley, Mark Hardwick, Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, John Schimmel, Jim Wann
New Vic: Tkts 01782 717962
Runs: 1h 45m, one interval, till Sat 16 February 2002
Review: Rod Dungate, 9 February 2002
All the foot-tapping, hand-clapping, chewing-gumming, tee-shirt-bobby-soxing splendour of hormonal youthCompilation musicals are definitely flavour of the, well, month or year or something. But however many I see, they never stop being fun, and it doesn't seem to matter whether they compile songs for a period or songs around a theme.. What's their charm? – It has to be something to do with their ability to string together the best songs of whatever genre, period or artist they are celebrating.
PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES is no exception. The Pump Boys in question are four lads who work (or rather just lay about) at a garage (or more accurately at a gas station) off Route 57. The Dinettes are two women who cheerily wait tables at the Double Cupp Diner. So the show itself captures the spirit of the 'road' in the way the Road Movies captured an American era. And the songs in the show demonstrate the range and energy of the popular songs in all their foot-tapping, hand-clapping, chewing-gumming, tee-shirt-bobby-soxing splendour of hormonal youth. (Ahhh, those were the days.)
Director Kate Edgar coordinates the show with wit and energy. The acting company of six bounce through the numbers with verve and incredible musical talent. In addition to expressive and powerful singing voices, electric and acoustic guitars, drums and keyboards, we are treated to harmonica, viola and a range of saucepans, shakers, trays and cups and saucers.
While the men drive the show along, for my money the feisty female duo (Kim Bretton and Amy Wadge) are the undoubted stars. Their ability to project their giant personalities and connect with the audience seems unlimited. They can excite you with earthy numbers like 'I Need a Tip' and lull you with 'We Grew up Together'. Not to leave the men guys unmentioned, however, Eddie (the dim one of the pump boys, Adam Keast) is particularly enjoyable as he tells us the women all fall for him because of his 'Farmer's Tan' and shows us his attributes – viz 'brown arm' and 'red neck'.
Cast:
Rhetta Cupp: Kim Bretton
L.M.: Adrian Dixon
Jim: Kevin Oliver Jones
Eddie: Adam Keast
Prudie Cupp: Amy Wadge
Jackson: Klaus White
Director: Kate Edgar
Design: Will Hargreaves
Musical Director: Kevin Oliver Jones
Choreographer: Beverley Edmunds
Sound: James Earls-Davis
Lighting: Daniella Beattie
2002-02-09 20:41:51