The Derbyshire Times REVIEW : Boogie Nights, The Montgomery Theatre.
Reviewed by: Gay Bolton
Published on Thurs 12th May, 2016
Get your groove on in Boogie Nights
The Seventies may have been the decade that good taste in fashion forgot but banging disco hits made it top of the pops.
I’m biased, of course, as this was the soundtrack of my teenage years - as memorable as Jackie magazine, the Ford Capri car and the Pearl and Dean music which heralded adverts at the cinema.
Jukebox musical Boogie Nights is a blast of Seventies chart hits, dance moves, glittery dresses and wet-look boots woven into a timeless story of young love soured by temptation.
This week’s production by Southey Musical Theatre Company’ is as sparkling as the glitter ball which transforms Sheffield’s Montgomery Theatre into disco heaven.
The singing is sublime, the dancing is slick, the costumes are eye-catching and the gleeful audience laps it up.
Joshua Holliday and Jessica Curr head the cast as Roddy and Debs, the former a confident ladies’ man who dreams of being a rock star, the latter mouthy but vulnerable and looking for long-term love and security. Both make their characters utterly believable and shine in songs such as Play That Funky Music and I Will Survive.
Matthew Bevan brings the house down as Roddy’s hapless mate Terry, testosterone raging but never quite getting it right on the dating front. He has a superb vocal range and pulls off the high notes of Sugar Baby Love with the skill of a professional.
Laura Whitlock, playing Debs’ best friend Trish and Terry’s love interest, gives a lovely performance and her voice is suited perfectly to the girls’ duet Yesterday Once More.
Among the show’s highlights is a belting performance of Lady Marmalade from Ria Westhead, cast as singer Lorraine who is treated harshly by her drug-dealing boyfriend Spencer, played by Ben Loy who oozes a mix of sleaze and seduction as he croons You Sexy Thing.
John Crowther gives the king of Rock ‘n’ Roll a run for his money as Elvis-obsessed Eamon, the golden-voiced yet slovenly, uber-critical dad of Roddy.
Boogie Nights is directed by Mark Harris, with musical direction by Anna Wright and choreography by Carla Jane Wade.
Published on Thurs 12th May, 2016
Get your groove on in Boogie Nights
The Seventies may have been the decade that good taste in fashion forgot but banging disco hits made it top of the pops.
I’m biased, of course, as this was the soundtrack of my teenage years - as memorable as Jackie magazine, the Ford Capri car and the Pearl and Dean music which heralded adverts at the cinema.
Jukebox musical Boogie Nights is a blast of Seventies chart hits, dance moves, glittery dresses and wet-look boots woven into a timeless story of young love soured by temptation.
This week’s production by Southey Musical Theatre Company’ is as sparkling as the glitter ball which transforms Sheffield’s Montgomery Theatre into disco heaven.
The singing is sublime, the dancing is slick, the costumes are eye-catching and the gleeful audience laps it up.
Joshua Holliday and Jessica Curr head the cast as Roddy and Debs, the former a confident ladies’ man who dreams of being a rock star, the latter mouthy but vulnerable and looking for long-term love and security. Both make their characters utterly believable and shine in songs such as Play That Funky Music and I Will Survive.
Matthew Bevan brings the house down as Roddy’s hapless mate Terry, testosterone raging but never quite getting it right on the dating front. He has a superb vocal range and pulls off the high notes of Sugar Baby Love with the skill of a professional.
Laura Whitlock, playing Debs’ best friend Trish and Terry’s love interest, gives a lovely performance and her voice is suited perfectly to the girls’ duet Yesterday Once More.
Among the show’s highlights is a belting performance of Lady Marmalade from Ria Westhead, cast as singer Lorraine who is treated harshly by her drug-dealing boyfriend Spencer, played by Ben Loy who oozes a mix of sleaze and seduction as he croons You Sexy Thing.
John Crowther gives the king of Rock ‘n’ Roll a run for his money as Elvis-obsessed Eamon, the golden-voiced yet slovenly, uber-critical dad of Roddy.
Boogie Nights is directed by Mark Harris, with musical direction by Anna Wright and choreography by Carla Jane Wade.
NODA Review: Boogie Nights
Reviewed by: Mary Titterton (Regional Representative)
As the Director said in his programme notes, "that the production was a loving pastiche to all things 70's" as the Company took us back for a night of nostalgia and fabulous music.
I have seen Josh Holliday (Roddy) in many productions over the last few years and, after a lot of hard work, it was great to see him taking the lead. His friends, Jessica Curr (Debs), Matthew Bevan (Terry), Laura Whitlock (Trish), Ben Loy (Spencer), Ria Westhead (Lorraine), Daniel Storey (Dean), Louise Grayson (Mandy) certainly got the most out of their characters and it was good to hear them singing songs which were "Top of the Pops" in the 70's. John Crowther (Eamon - Roddy's dad) - his love of everything Elvis and the singing of his songs was a pleasure to listen to. The ensemble were kept busy and they all looked as though they were enjoying themselves.
Having the band on stage worked very well, giving Anna (Musical Director) the opportunity to "strut her stuff" on stage also. Well done to Mark (Director) - I have only seen the show once before, and didn't appreciate the comedy at that time. Carla Jane's choreography was excellent and the movement certainly brought the songs to life. Well done to all the Stage team, Costume Design, Properties, Lighting and Sound. All members giving of their best to a first class production.
Reviewed by: Mary Titterton (Regional Representative)
As the Director said in his programme notes, "that the production was a loving pastiche to all things 70's" as the Company took us back for a night of nostalgia and fabulous music.
I have seen Josh Holliday (Roddy) in many productions over the last few years and, after a lot of hard work, it was great to see him taking the lead. His friends, Jessica Curr (Debs), Matthew Bevan (Terry), Laura Whitlock (Trish), Ben Loy (Spencer), Ria Westhead (Lorraine), Daniel Storey (Dean), Louise Grayson (Mandy) certainly got the most out of their characters and it was good to hear them singing songs which were "Top of the Pops" in the 70's. John Crowther (Eamon - Roddy's dad) - his love of everything Elvis and the singing of his songs was a pleasure to listen to. The ensemble were kept busy and they all looked as though they were enjoying themselves.
Having the band on stage worked very well, giving Anna (Musical Director) the opportunity to "strut her stuff" on stage also. Well done to Mark (Director) - I have only seen the show once before, and didn't appreciate the comedy at that time. Carla Jane's choreography was excellent and the movement certainly brought the songs to life. Well done to all the Stage team, Costume Design, Properties, Lighting and Sound. All members giving of their best to a first class production.
Some of our promotional photographs - photo credit Simon Wright
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I believe in miracles - where you from? You sexy thing!
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Burn, baby, burn! Disco Inferno!!
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Lay down and boogie and play that funky music 'til you die!
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I will survive! As long as I know how to love I know I'm still alive!
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Bye bye baby, don't make me cry!
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Let's dance the last dance tonight!
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Official Show Photographs (courtesy of Alan Thompson, Nick Plummer-Walsh and Pete Miles - all images are copyright).
Opening
Opening
Boogie Wonderland - Full Company
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Anna Wright (Musical Director)
BOOGIE NIGHTS ARE ALWAYS THE BEST IN TOWN!
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Roddy (Josh Holliday) and Company
Celebration - Full Company
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Do The Hustle - Club Dancers(Amy Roe-Parkin & Simon Addy) and full Company
Debs (Jess Curr) and Trish (Laura Whitlock)
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DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART!!
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Trish and Terry (Matt Bevan)
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Roddy and Debs
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Lorraine (Ria Westhead) and Backing Singers (Louise Grayson, Lynne Hickey, Vicki Hardman, Leigh Mason and Marie Mason)
Lorraine and Backing Singers
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Spencer (Ben Loy) with Club Dancers (Jess Anderson, Hannah Bloomer and Amy Roe-Parkin)
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The Lads - Terry, Roddy and Dean (Daniel Storey)
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The Lads
I'M ALL
SHOOK UP! |
Eamon (John Crowther)
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The Lads
Shaft - Spencer with the Club Dancers (Ellen Hindley, Hannah Bloomer, Jess Anderson, Georgina McCaul, Katie Hatch and Safia Hussain)
Debs
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The Club Dancers (Ellen Hindley, Hannah Bloomer and Jess Anderson)
IT'S YESTERDAY ONCE MORE...
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Debs and Trish
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Debs and Trish
Debs and Trish
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Female Company
Kung Foo Fighting - Dean and Full Company
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Happy Days - Full Company
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Sugar Baby Love
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Sugar Baby Love
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Sugar Baby Love
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Terry and Trish
C.M.Y.A
Lorraine and Spencer
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Reach Out - Full Company
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Reach Out
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Reach Out
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Reach Out
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Act One Finale
The Boogie Nights House Band
BURN, BABY, BURN! DISCO INFERNO!!
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The Boogie Nights House Band
Starship Trooper - Trish and Club Dancers
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Starship Trooper - Trish and Company
Starship Trooper - Full Company
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Trish and Full Company
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Starship Trooper
Eamon
YOU ARE ALWAYS ON MY MIND...
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Terry and Trish
Debs and Lorraine
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Eamon
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Anna
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Trish and Debs
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Terry and Roddy
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Roddy and Debs
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Terry, Trish, Dean and Debs
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Roddy
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SORRY SEEMS TO BE THE HARDEST WORD
The Wedding
The Wedding
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Roddy and Eamon
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Roddy
LAY DOWN AND BOOGIE AND PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC 'TIL YOU DIE!
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Roddy and The Lads
Finale - Full Company
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The Girls
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Roddy and The Lads
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Terry
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Boogie Nights Finale MegaMix - Full Company
Boogie Nights Finale MegaMix - Full Company
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Boogie Nights Finale MegaMix - Full Company
Boogie Nights Finale MegaMix - Full Company
Boogie Nights Finale MegaMix - Full Company
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DANCE!!! BOOGIE WONDERLAND!!!
Boogie Nights Finale MegaMix - Full Company
Boogie Nights Finale MegaMix - Full Company
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Boogie Nights Finale MegaMix - Full Company
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WE ARE FAMILY - GET UP EVERYBODY AND SING!!
Check out our groovy Production Team!
Carla Jane Wade (Choreographer), Steve Myers (Band Leader), Mark Harris (Director) and Anna Wright (Musical Director)
Our door poster outside The Monty.
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Some promotional photographs and Theatre Foyer posters.
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