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Save The Last Dance For Me (UK Tour)
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 26th August 2013
Save The Last Dance For Me is a new musical by the same writers, producers, creators and director of Dreamboats and Petticoats. The shows are scarily similar and both use the exact same formula. This wasn't my first time seeing Save The Last Dance For Me, and I have also seen Dreamboats and Petticoats a few times too and personally I think Dreamboats and Petticoats is a better show. However, I saw the Dreamboats and Petticoats tour a few weeks ago and it felt a little dated and extremely tired, whereas Save The Last Dance For Me certainly still feels fresh and is bursting with life.
I have written before about how Save The Last Dance For Me brings a whole new meaning to the term 'cheesy', but it's all part of the fun. The show follows two sisters who go on holiday for the first time without their parents. They meet an American and end up spending time at the local US Air force base and, as I'm sure you have predicted by now, the musical is about a holiday romance.
The story is extremely predictable and is in no way groundbreaking or thought provoking - but that is not the point of the show. Save The Last Dance For Me is just a good excuse to relive the magic of the early sixties and to sing along to some of the greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll hits of all time, the on-stage band are terrific.
The cast are good although it was a shame see a few give lazy vocal performances. The two stand out performances come from Lee Honey-Jones as Milton and Verity Jones as Jennifer who both put their all into every scene and musical number. Lee in particular stood out for his smooth and effortless vocals.
The set design is fine and what you would expect from a low budget touring show. I must admit that it is nowhere near as awful as Dreamboats and Petticoats' cheap and tacky looking design! The costume design is full of colour and really does bring back some sixties magic.
If you adore sixties Rock 'n' Roll music and think you can deal with a little bit of cringey acting, you must make every effort to see Save The Last Dance For Me. It was great to see so many audience members jump to their feet during the finale, dancing and singing along. In fact as I left the theatre I overheard one elderly lady say: "I definitely just lost a few pounds" - so if you want to have a fun night out and lose a few pounds, make sure you see Save The Last Dance For Me!
Reviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)
Save The Last Dance For Me runs at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre until Saturday 31st August 2013.
Click here for further information, tour dates and tickets.
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