Drayton Entertainment has music on its side.
Footloose, one of the company’s most anticipated and high energy shows of the season, burst onto the stage at the St. Jacob’s Country Playhouse last week to a sold-out crowd.
When the original movie starring Kevin Bacon was released in 1984 it was heralded as, “Flashdance set in farm country.”
It would quickly become one of the quintessential films of the “MTV generation,” utilizing the characteristic rapid scene cutting and camera angles found in the music videos of pop stars like Michael Jackson and Madonna.
When describing the youth of this period, the New York Times said they were “struggling to establish a cultural niche for themselves … to distinguish themselves from the hippies and baby boomers” and in a way, this became Footloose’s central conceit.
Enter Ren McCormack, a born and bread city boy suddenly transported from his stomping grounds in Chicago to the rural locale of Bomont. It isn’t long before he is the talk of the town with his edgy fashion and brooding demeanor. However, it is his penchant for dancing that really sets him apart from his new peers, as they quickly inform him that his two-step and rock music are strictly forbidden within town limits. Ren vows to challenge the law and in the process teaches a mourning community how to have fun again.
Colin Sheen gives Bacon and 2011 remake star Kenny Wormold a run for their money in the role of Ren. Unlike the film stars, he is unaided by a stunt double, making his dance moves all the more impressive as he darts across the stage nearly moon-walking in his converse sneakers. Sheen brings a newfound innocence to the role – less incensed than previous players, but no less intriguing a “bad boy.”
Ren’s dissident nature leads him to spark an unlikely relationship with the preacher’s daughter Ariel, a rebel in her own right.
While some productions of the musical have shied away from explicit portrayal of Ariel’s defiant behaviour – omitting scenes involving her promiscuity, drinking and car racing – Drayton keeps them mostly intact. Newcomer Julia McLellan is as fiery as her red hair in the role, her voice holding the audience and Ren in awe as she spins circles around him with her rebellious spirit and contagious laugh.
A dynamic supporting cast fleshes out the performance – playing off the lead characters with chemistry and spunk. Particularly memorable are Katrina Reynolds as Ariel’s cheeky friend Rusty, and Nick Settimi as Ren’s unlikely companion Willard.
Though it tries to be at times, a deep and moving story Footloose is not. Victor Young and Charlotte Moore give convincing performances as Ariel’s concerned parents, but any emotion for the most part is lost in a plot whose high-handed family values border on cheesy and are wrapped up in a neat Hollywood ending.
Nevertheless, Footloose is a lot of fun.
Costume designer Jessica Bray chose to stay true to the story’s 80s roots – paying homage to the era with neon costumes accented by high-waisted jeans, roller skates and bold patterns. Allan Wilbee’s sets mimic the style, nearly bridging into the 90s with their geometric shapes and bright pastels (the school scenes in particular are reminiscent of Saved by the Bell).
Fans of the movie will recognize many of their favourite numbers including Holding Out for a Hero and Let’s Hear it for the Boy. Noticeably diminished is Ren’s famous warehouse dance scene, which hard core fans of the films may lament, but a number of new songs such as Mama Says and Still Rockin’ make it almost forgivable.
Footloose has a unique advantage as a stage production. With two successful film adaptations released in 1984 and 2011 consecutively, the story has garnered a multi-generational fan base that includes Generations X and Y. Millennials may be shocked to see their parents’ toes tapping alongside their own.
Ultimately Footloose highlights the universal quality of music and its ability to bring people and communities together – even if they have nothing else in common. Drayton’s sold-out shows are testament enough to its enduring appeal and the desire we all feel to once in a while, just “cut loose.”
Footloose is on stage through Nov. 9. Tickets are $42 for adults, $25 for youth under 20 and $34 for groups of 20 or more. Tickets can be purchased at www.st.jacobscountryplayhouse.com, at the box office or by calling 519-747-7788.
