Dreamboats & Miniskirts Review: ‘A feel-good show’

[All images credited to Darren Bell] 

 

The kids from St Mungo’s youth club in Essex were the subject of Dreamboats and Petticoats, and this sequel follows the next chapter in the characters’ lives.

Bobby and Laura achieve a smash hit with their romantic pop numbers, but after they are caught out miming on ‘Ready Steady Go’ (that’s the 60s TOTP) it seems both their professional and personal relationships have come to an end.

Their friends Ray and Donna are also at risk of a split as Ray is spending so much time developing his uptown hair salon. Donna’ eyes become green with envy and her expression furrowed with doubt. Then Norman and Sue are still together but, with a little one on the way, Sue isn’t wholly sure that Norman going back to re-form The Conquests (with him as lead singer, Bobby on backing) is a good thing.

When the slick and all-powerful record producer Tony Lister spots their talent, things are on the up. Or at least they would have had instant success if it wasn’t for Bobby’s dishonesty which distances him from Laura even further.

 

 

This is a fine ensemble performance and the lightweight plot is more than made up for in this jukebox musical, and what a jukebox 1963 has to offer! This also benefits from having the band on-stage with, at one point, a female saxophonist banging it beneath a hair dryer at Ray’s salon.

This is not a spoiler but suffice it to say that the boy meets girl blueprint is neatly met with the three couples in a happy ending that conveniently leaves way for a third production. A feel-good show that makes up for its lack of emotional depth with an absolute pull-the-stops-out performance from the musician/actors. All performers were highly skilled in both their own performance and working the audience too, at which we were of course utterly thrilled.

 

 

Dreamboats and Miniskirts is on a UK tour until October – don’t miss it!

Rich Jevons