UK Theatre Network

Light on story?  Maybe.  Nostalgic?  Probably.  Great fun and uplifting?  Most definitely!!  Dreamboats and Petticoats had the audience on their feet!

The nostalgic, retrospective musical show tour has become commonplace in our theatres … but their popularity does not guarantee that they are any good.  A cynical producer would insist that building a show around 43 classic chart hits from the 50s and early 60s would deliver a smash hit musical.  But the audiences who were first attracted to the theatre to see “Buddy” have been suckered by a few badly produced, but similarly themed, shows since and are growing more sophisticated.  The bar has been raised.

So what of this new arrival?  Even with raised expectations, Dreamboats and Petticoats delivers more than you might hope for.  OK, the story is light and the choreography is simplistic but the music, humour, performances and blatant onstage FUN really lift this show out of the ordinary.  The story is based around a church youth club and an entry into a national song writing competition.   Almost as expected – girl worships boy from afar, boy doesn’t notice girl, girl makes boy jealous, boy shows interest, girl (apparently) changes her mind, boy gets sad, girl and boy finally realise their true love, the end.  But writers Marks and Gran (of Birds of a Feather fame) have built in some instantly appealing characters and some regular chuckles along the way so that the story becomes a simple vehicle for delivery of the humour and the music.

Performances from this largely breakthrough cast were excellent.  X-factor’s Scott Bruton and newcomers Daisy Wood-Davis, Emma Hatton and A.J. Dean really shone while ‘older’ hands  Jennifer Biddal and David Cardy delivered their roles with aplomb.  Michael Lloyd was an audience favourite for his hilarious characters while Emmerdale’s Ben Freeman astonished with an outstanding vocal and character performance.  Did I mention that the cast played their own instruments?  Yep, put “Return to the Forbidden Planet” in a time machine and you’ll find yourself with “Dreamboats and Petticoats”!  Producer Bill Kenwright has, once again, delivered something special here.  Watch out for some cleverly penned contemporary gags … and a scene stealing monk!

LISTINGS INFORMATION:

KING’S THEATRE , GLASGOW

Mon 2 – Sat 7 March

Mon - Sat eves 7.30pm

Wed & Sat mats 2.30pm

Tickets: £11 - £29

Box Office: 0870 060 6648 (bkg fee)

www.ambassadortickets.com/glasgow  (bkg fee)