Review: Dreamboats and Petticoats leaves you with a smile on your face (From Bucks Free Press)

Review: Dreamboats and Petticoats leaves you with a smile on your face

9:20am Wednesday 3rd October 2012 in Freetime By Rebecca Cain

WATCHING Dreamboats and Petticoats at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre made me want to join jive classes and left me humming Let's Twist Again all the way home.

This is a great, feel-good musical with brilliant singers and an even better choice of songs.

Dream team Laurence Marks and Maurice wrote the Jukebox musical which is packed with hits from the late 1950s to the early 60s and produced by Bill Kenwright.

From the very first song of Let's Dance my toe was tapping throughout and the hits never stopped.

There is of course also a storyline. It is based at a youth club in Essex and a singing competition has been launched.

Laura and Bobby agree to write a song together. Bobby, who is unaware Laura likes him, falls for the glamour of Sue, leaving Laura heartbroken.

But the attraction of Sue soon fades. It is a very funny show and had the audience laughing throughout.

Sometimes the lines seem a bit obvious but this just adds to the feel of the show, and everyone joins in in good spirit.

Elizabeth Carter, who plays Laura, has an amazing voice and is a great actress.

She stole the show for me. Scott Haining is also brilliant as Bobby as are the whole of the cast, who rarely sang a note out of tune.

Ben James-Ellis was perfectly cast as Norman and got a lot of the laughs. Amy Diamond, who was a live TV finalist in Over The Rainbow, was also well cast as Sue.

The sets are very cleverly done, especially the boats for the tunnel of love. And everything is slick and professional.

The songs are of course what really make the show and include The Wanderer, Dream Baby Dream, Poetry in Motion, Do Do Ron Ron, Let It Be, Let's Twist Again and At The Hop- but this is just a snapshot.

It was great to see such a talented young cast own these incredibly popular songs. I left the theatre with a smile on my face.

Dreamboats and Petticoats is at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre until Saturday, October 6 at 7.30pm each evening and Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Tickets range from £12 to £29.50 from 0844 8717607 or www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury

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