Based on the 1980s screen sensation, the play follows Ren McCormack, played brilliantly by an all-flipping, all-singing, all-dancing Lewis Hoskins, who has moved to small-town Bomont from Chicago with his mother. But Bomont is a town divided. A local law, the brainchild of Reverend Shaw, played by Tony Creasey, has banned dancing. Rev Shaw forced the law on the town after four young kids lost their lives coming home from a dance. Ren decides to fight the ban all while falling in love with Ariel, the Rev’s daughter. Becca McGregor plays the rebellious daughter phenomenally, but she really shines in the slower scenes, showing that all Ariel wants is for her dad to hear her.
Much like in the play, the Players have let its young actors take centre stage with almost one third of the cast debut performers. They are the heart of the show, and show a community coming together on stage and in life. As Ren says in the play: “It is our time to celebrate life.”
The audience is swept along as both cast and character find their voice, and their feet, in this story of love and loss. The choreography is fast paced with flips and tricks, and if some of the cast can be seen thinking through the moves, with the occasional accent slip, it is quickly forgotten in the amazing set, direction and acting of the Players. A particular highlight was Oscar Da Silva in the role of Willard who never failed to make me laugh.
Directed by Fiona McGregor, Footloose is playing at Haslemere Hall until Saturday, March 23. Get your tickets online at https://tickets.haslemerehall.co.uk/sales/genres/theatre/footloose