The St. Cloud State University Chronicle reviewed our production of FOOTLOOSE! Check it out…

‘Footloose’ is well-done theater fun

Posted on 13 September 2010.

Whether you’re a fan of musicals in general or of ‘Footloose’ in particular, you’ll love Great Theatre’s production of the musical, which is showing every Thursday through Sunday at the Paramount Theatre until Sept. 19.

The story of ‘Footloose’ is fairly well-known in popular culture. Based on a true story, it chronicles the teenage life of Ren McCormack, a Chicago kid who moves to Beaumont, a town that has banished dancing. Ren has a hard time fitting in in this one-horse town as it is, but without dancing, it’s all but impossible for him. Ren falls for Ariel Moore, the reverend’s daughter, and befriends Willard Hewitt, a local cowboy who can’t dance, and takes them out of town to a dance hall where they all enjoy themselves. He befriends some more of the local youth and convinces them to confront the town council, which includes the Reverend Shaw Moore, the town’s most influential citizen and the father of Ren’s love interest.

Revealing the ending of such a known story could hardly be considered a spoiler, but I’ll avoid it anyway since the show is such a fun ride and should be experienced firsthand.

The showstopping number is “Let’s Hear it For the Boy,” performed by Jade Evans’ Rusty, Ariel’s best friend and Willard’s love interest, at the dance hall. The number is phenomenal, not least thanks to Evans’ stage presence and energetic drive. Combine that with the acrobatic tricks and scenic movement, and the whole audience is sure to have a good time.

Other memorable numbers include “Mama Says (You Can’t Back Down),” a sweet number made great by creative choreography, including a human staircase and mimed caravan. Another song not to miss is the Act-I-ending “I’m Free/Heaven Help Me,” performed by the entire cast and showcasing the conflict between the adults and youth in the small town of Beaumont.

As is common with community theater, the singing is the high point of the performers’ talent. The dance and acting, however, rarely suffer for it, with teenagers believably portraying teenagers in a town even smaller than St. Cloud.

From a scenic standpoint, the production is all but flawless. The backdrops are realistic and eye-catching without drawing the attention away from the performers. All the set pieces are movable and often used as part of the choreography. In the town council scene, for example, the pews of the church are transformed from public benches into a barricade for the rowdy youth within just a few bars of a song. The prop motorcycles are another brilliant conception, accurately conveying the look of a motorcycle while still being sturdy and versatile enough to be used as moving props for a dance to “The Girl Gets Around.”

The few flaws in the show concern the leading female character. In the production, Mandi Seamans’ Ariel comes off as angry and malicious, instead of as an angst-ridden teenager acting out, because she wants to enjoy her youth. While an actor’s interpretation of a character varies from production to production, this well-known story would be better off with the traditional, fun-loving, likable Ariel character.

The other overlooked areas are the actor’s costume and make-up. A small part of an otherwise impressive and colorful costume design, it’s as if the costume department couldn’t decide whether Ariel existed in the ’80s or today, with the other characters’ costumes being decidedly ’80s. Also, the actor’s tattoos are visible throughout the performance. As anyone with a theater background can tell you, tattoos can (and, in this case, should) be easily covered with stage make-up. The character is rebellious, but not so much that she would have three decent-sized tattoos that her strict father could regularly see.

Picky theater-kid observations aside, the show is an absolute winner. Ushered in after the theater decided against performing “Grease,” the production is as fun as musicals get without the tired, restrictive themes of an oft-performed show.
Student tickets are $18 and can be purchased at the Paramount Theatre box office. The show is recommended to dancers, theater lovers and anyone who has ever cut footloose.

This post was written by: Molly Willms
Email: wimo0803@stcloudstate.edu