Let's hear it for the boys and girls! - the cast of 80s crowdpleaser Footloose were a knockout in this fun-filled adaptation of the iconic Kevin Bacon movie at The Opera House, Manchester.
After being abandoned by his father, teenager Ren McCormack and his mother leave Chicago for a new life with his Aunt and Uncle in the small town of Bomont. A bored and frustrated Ren struggles to fit in, but makes friends with dim-witted but kind- hearted local Willard, and soon sets his sights on preacher's daughter Ariel.
His already shrunken world grinds to a halt when he arrives at Bomont to find dancing and rock music have been banned by Ariel's father Rev. Shaw Moore as a reaction to a personal tragedy. So Ren decides to challenge the preacher and get the town back on its feet - dancing, singing and of course... cutting foot loose.
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Jake Quickenden brings heaps of lovable charm to his role as the affable but dim-witted Willard, while raising eyebrows - and temperatures - when he strips off his dungarees to reveal a pair of tight, gold hot pants Kylie would be proud of that alone is worth the ticket price.
Joshua Hawkins delivers a strong performance as Ren, played by Bacon in the film, along with glamorous love interest Ariel, performed by Lucy Munden who rocks red shorts and cowgirl boots, leaving men drooling in her path.
Oonagh Cox as Rusty lights up the stage with her endearing crush on Willard, the shy pair circling around each other in a "will they, won't they" metaphorical dance, that ends in a real one - the first of Willard's life and then finally, a romance.
West End star Darren Day gives a believable and solid performance in his role as the stoic, music and dance-hating preacher, finally coming round to Ren's way of thinking and humourously lightening up by the end of the show.
Feel-good tunes include Let's Hear It For The Boy, Holding Out For A Hero, Almost Paradise and the title tune Footloose.
The talented cast played their own instruments on stage, delivering a novel balancing act of guitar-playing with skipping rope and dancing - even including roller-booting saxophonists.
The energy on stage was a non-stop riot of humour, dance, singing and performing which left everyone on their feet as the show came to its climax.
Poignant here was the parallel between the fictitious and far fetched tale of a town where dancing and singing is banned and the reality of theatre, dancing and singing being off bounds during the pandemic.
So, as the cast motioned for the audience to get up on their feet, there was almost a feel of life imitates art as people were once again able to enjoy a freedom denied for such a long time.
It's time to cut-loose and this musical does it with style - an absolute gem.
Footloose is at Manchester Opera House until Saturday March 5.
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