Boogie on down with SAMT - Boogie Nights review (From Warrington Guardian)

Boogie on down with SAMT - Boogie Nights review

10:11am Wednesday 25th April 2012 in Theatre By Rick Bowen

THE plot to Boogie Nights is largely irrelevant - we don’t really care that Roddy has a difficult relationship with his dad or that his womanising comes back to haunt him.

He isn’t particularly likeable, after all.

Boogie Nights is an excuse for the cast and audience to party, against a musical backdrop of glorious 70s hits.

The fashions may have been horrendous at times - did people really dress like that? - but much of the music featured in Sale and Altrincham Musical Theatre’s production has a timeless quality to it.

For audience members of a certain vintage this show will bring back many memories while for younger ones it could prove to be a musical voyage of discovery.

What struck me, sitting in the Waterside Arts Centre, was how much younger the audience was, compared to previous SAMT shows. This is essential if amateur theatre is to survive and prosper and I also applaud the company for its adventurous choice of show.

There’s some fine ensemble singing to enjoy and the principals excel, with Mark Frampton (Roddy), Emily Knutton (Debs) and Dave Barker as nightclub DJ Spencer, a tyrant of the decks,particularly impressive. I also liked Paul Rendel’s Dean, a strong acting performance that’s typical of this enjoyable and uplifting production.

Hopefully the empty seats on Tuesday night will be filled for the rest of the run, when word gets out just how good this is. * Until April 28. The box office is on 07504 771 051. Star rating - ****