Shake, Ripple And Roll Review
A Saturday evening in a small, albeit delightful, village hall, being entertained by a group of 7-13 year olds may not be one’s idea of heaven. BUT, and what a big but, this group really did entertain me and I would have been sorry to have missed this delightful little show. Having never seen it previously, I went with an open mind. The music and somewhat predictable story are both very well written and was an excellent vehicle for the kids to show off their talents. And a number of them really did have talent. I mention in particular the Hughes brothers Adam and James as it was their diction that was so impressive – very good American accents sustained throughout and taken at a pace that was easily understood. Others gave good accounts of their roles and one more special mention goes to Christian Vince as the three foot high ‘chauffeur’. His projection was simply splendid and I expect to see much more of this young lad in future years. For a first show after a break of seven years, this provided an excellent springboard for the group to now move forward. The costumes were well conceived and helped in the total believability of the piece. With dedicated training provided for them and a commitment by the kids themselves, I can see them giving the adults a run for their money in years to come. I cannot close this review without commenting on the absolutely first class set! It was fantastic! When the curtain opened, one was in no doubt that the scene was an American ice cream parlour in the 1950’s. Well done to all involved in this respect but many congratulations to everyone involved with the production!
Eric Smart - NODA