Dig those dancing shoes out of the closet as Footloose has come to town! Set in the southwest of America, this toe-tapping musical produced by Phoenix Ensemble is sure to raise the roof and have you smiling ear to ear!
Following the story of Ren and his mother as they move from Chicago to a small farming town, he is prepared for the inevitable adjustment period at his new high school. But what he is not prepared for is the rigorous local edicts, including a ban on dancing instituted by the local preacher, who is determined to exercise control over the town's youth.
When the Reverend's rebellious daughter sets her sights on Ren, her roughneck boyfriend tries to sabotage Ren's reputation, with many of the locals eager to believe the worst about the new kid. The heartfelt story that emerges pins a father longing for the son he lost against a young man aching for the father who walked out on him.
Footloose is Directed and Choreographed by Isabelle Quayle (with assistance from Jo Burnett as Assistant Director and Kirsten Brown as Assistant Choreographer), Quayle is a talented creative taking the source material and creating something truly special. Each performer has been worked hard to ensure they are producing the best character they can, and it has paid off. The choreography was spectacular, as a dance musical people expect some pretty fantastic dancing and Quayle rose to the challenge. At some points the choreography seemed slightly too difficult for the performers as there we some slight miss-timings and half-missed moves, however as the season continues this is sure to get tighter. Benjamin Richards as Musical Director has produced a fantastic-sounding production right down to the bone. Richards is a talented and in-demand creative and was a perfect choice for this production, harmonies and vocals were tight and sharp, whilst the band was on fire the entire evening.
Sound Design by Luke O'Hagan (with operation by Sally Faint) and Lighting design by Maddy Bosanko ( with operation by Anya Otley) was commendable, tech is an extremely hard aspect of theatre and these volunteers should be congratulated on their hard work on this production. Set Design also by Quayle was simple yet effective, utilising pallet wood as the main source for the set, this multi-layer design featured two outposts to help create different settings and a double door centre stage which was perfect for cast entrances and exits. The set did create a small area for the cast to enter and exit from the side stage creating some bumps and trips however as the cast gets used to the set their spatial awareness will become clearer. 
The leading man, Ren McCormack, is played by the exquisite Sam Caruana. Caruana is a talented triple-threat performer that absolutely shone in this role, their hard-hitting vocals and superb dancing were perfect for the leading role. Opposite Caruana is Yasmin Fitzgerald as the rebel Ariel Moore, Fitzgerald is an extremely talented performer with vocals like a god. Their powerhouse singing brought the house down during the numbers, especially Holding Out for a Hero where the audience was whooping and screaming. Fitzgerald's gaggle of friends, AJ Betts as Rusty, Wednesday Reign as Wendy Jo, and Chelsea Jamieson as Urleen were all fantastic in their roles. Their rendition of Somebody's Eyes was haunting and fantastic, if you're thinking about seeing the show, these 4 performers are why you should! Andrew McArthur as Reverend Shaw Moore was strong and grounded, McArthur was the character you love to hate, right up until their change of heart at the end of the show! Opposite McArthur was the incomparable Della Days as Vi Moore, Days is a revered and experienced performer who broke the hearts of the audience towards the end of Act 2 with their brilliant acting.
The remaining cast did an extremely amicable job showcasing the hard-hitting music and impressive dance moves throughout the show and they will only become better and better as the season continues.
Overall Footloose: The Musical at Phoenix Theatre is an enjoyable night out for the entire family or whoever loves a fun-loving musical fit with many, many dance numbers! Footloose: The Musical performs until 24 February 2024 in the Pavillion Theatre, Beenleigh Showgrounds.
Photos by PIF Productions
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