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Whats On Production Shake, Ripple and Roll (2008)
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Shake, Ripple and Roll (2008)


Production Type
Nomes Production

Production Location
Main Theatre



User Rating: (Awaiting votes)

Description:

The year is 1956 and in a small town outside New York, Uncle Angelo’s Ice Cream Parlour is the place to go. Kids meet over their shakes and ice cream, rocking ‘n’ rolling to the swinging sounds of the old ... [more]



Production Dates & Prices:
(Please note Booking Information)

 Date
Time
Price
 
 Friday 4th July 2008
7:30pm
£8.00
 Saturday 5th July 2008
2:30pm
£8.00
 Saturday 5th July 2008
7:30pm
£8.00
 Sunday 6th July 2008
2:30pm
£8.00



Official Review:
Shake, Ripple & Roll, by Jennifer Toksvig (sister of Sandy in case you didn’t know) is all that a high school musical should be – short,pithy fast-paced and fun and, as such, an ideal medium for the Nomes summer show at the beginning of the month. As with all latter-day youth productions, the restrictions placed on the youngsters’ performance times, meant that directors Nina Holmes and Mel Hyde needed to produce two teams of talented young people (more than fifty in all!). An advantage of this is the greater opportunity to sell tickets and,indeed, the theatre was packed to overflowing for every performance – and deservedly so. The disadvantage from the reviewer’s point of view is that it is only possible to see half the performances but my spies tell me that the shows put on by the red team matched those of the white team in every respect. An inevitable drawback of an audience composed mainly of relatives of the cast is a total lack of discrimination, as though each performer was a talking dog or toddler who needed unstinting praise for even taking part. Personally I could have done without the unperceptive war-whoops at every opportunity. We weren’t there to praise their courage in appearing in front of an audience. As paying customers we have the right to enjoy an evening’s entertainment and get value for our money. And these kids did not need to be patronised. The talent and enthusiasm was there for us all to appreciate – could there have been anyone not carried away in a wave of enthusiasm and pure enjoyment at the show they presented. What was most impressive was the sheer discipline of the ensemble. most of whom were in every scene. Almost invariably, one or two members of a large company will, unfortunately, stand out from the crowd by clearly being too under rehearsed or unconfident not to signal to the audience that they are not sure what they should be doing – a lack of coordination here, a sly glance round at what is happening around them there, Not with this company – they were so full of selfassuredness and confident in their own abilities. No one was going to let ‘Shake, Ripple and Roll’ down. Equally, it must be difficult for the director to curb the natural “show off” tendencies of one or two to make them conform to the need of the show. And, once again, the directors met the task superbly. It is invidious to pick out any individuals for special mention in such an integrated musical get-together but I was particularly struck by the taciturn bodyguard, Max (who had clearly been given leave of absence by the local mafia) and could incorporate so much meaning into a murmured monosyllable,(Josh Hart), and the infant James Dean lookalike, Dills Millington. There we are in a Damon Runyon New York ice cream parlour – Guys and Dolls meets Bugsy Malone. What ever did we do musically before Rock and Roll – a revolutionary music in my day – now a standard part of the repertoire (although a quick lessons in jive dancing might have won an additional merit award) Will Angelo’ s ice cream parlour be forced to close? Will the wicked witch in the form of screen star Deanna La Domme take over? Will Joey Nobody (Ben White excellent) find the missing will? The ensemble choral work was splendid as was the music supplied by Steven Geraghty once again with a brilliant trio of musicians. Choreography was magnificent (no credit in the programme so congratulations to Nina and Mel). The chequerboard set and apposite furniture supplemented the action to perfection (courtesy Helen Burden). All in all, a first class evenings’ entertainment. Senior members of Nomads, however – where were you? By Derrick Graham


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