THE YOUNG ONES to 27 Jan 2008
THE YOUNG ONES
Original screenplay by Peter Myers and Ronnie Cass. Screenplay adapted by John Plews.
Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Highgate Village N6 To 27 Jan 2008.
Tue - Sat 8pm, Mat Sun 4pm.
Runs 2hr One interval.
TICKETS: 020 8340 3488.
www.upstairsatthegatehouse.com
Review: Geoff Ambler 18 December 2007.
What d'you know, we got a show!
Based on the 1961 Cliff Richard and The Shadows movie of the same name, about a group of youths trying to save their club from redevelopment into one of those tragic 1960’s concrete offices which London is still lumbered with today, The Gatehouse’s Young Ones is a welcome new alternative entry into this festive seasons offerings, while remaining steadfastly unseasonal.
Director Racky Plews, indeed all the Plews, have produced a refreshingly fun alternative to the more traditional offerings and The Gatehouse, a little off the beaten track, is always worth searching out for a wonderful evening of fringe musical theatre par excellence.
The Young Ones, set in the early sixties, manages to keep the naiveté and freshness of a period, newly swinging and unsullied by what was to come, and this immediately comes through in the energy of the opening scenes with some memorably distinctive, epoch defining choreography and a fine young cast, all on a kaleidoscopic set of seemingly shifting, swinging cupboard doors!
Playing Nicky, Cliff Richard’s movie role, Jason Langley achieves reluctant teen heart throb as the “mystery voice” who creates a stir on pirate radio, with essential musical vitality. With “The Young Ones”, “When The Girl” and “Living Doll”, Jason gets all the numbers that for good or bad helped establish Sir Cliff into the history of great British music and capably rises to these challenges.
Fine, fun performances fill this show from edge to edge. Notably Seamus Newham’s property developer, and Nicky’s father, Hamilton Black is great straight comedy value and Amy O’Neill is a delight as the wonderfully overacted diva, Dorinda.
With it’s tongue firmly planted in it’s cheek, The Young Ones never takes itself too seriously and as a light hearted, sixties musical escape it certainly is an alternative, holiday period joy.
Nicky: Jason Langley.
Ernest: Richard Foster-King.
Jimmy: Kristopher Milnes.
Chris: Craig O’Hara.
Toni: Kay Milbourne.
Wendy: Emily Eden.
Pam: Sophie Adams.
Barbara: Vicki Lee Taylor.
Dorinda Morell: Amy O’Neill.
Hamilton Black: Seamus Newham.
Newsreader: Richard Baker.
Director/Choreographer: Racky Plews.
Designer: Mike Lees.
Lighting: Howard Hudson.
Musical Director: Dominic Carter.
2007-12-22 10:32:04