Twist And Shout, Weston Playhouse Review
This show was a cracking way to spend a couple of hours going down memory lane and reliving your best life in the 60s and 70s through the marvellous music created back then, and still going strong today. Short skirts, long hair, tight trousers; they were the order of the day along with a charming innocence that made the songs romantically inclined unless of course they were protest songs.
The first half is all about the sixties with hits by the Beatles, Herman’s Hermits, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Manfred Mann, and not neglecting the girls, Cilla Black, Lulu, Sandy Shaw and more. The costumes were great, long white patent leather boots and colourful mini dresses for the girls and sharp suits for the lads. The second half brings on the 70s, flower power and free love (if you were lucky back then) and more sing along hits, Mr Tambourine Man, San Francisco, I’m a Believer, California Dreaming to name but a few. The stage was creatively transformed into the era with the aid of flowered fabric drapes, bean bags for reclining on, lots of flowers, and the lead singer donning a long blonde wig complete with scarf head band and blue flared trousers – he really did look the part and I’m pretty sure I had a boyfriend that looked just like him at the time!
The band were excellent, all the singers had fine voices and the dancers gave great performances as well as very much looking the part in their pretty costumes. They appeared to be having as much fun as we were – dancing in the aisles was positively encouraged at the end – and there was also a lively bit of humour thrown in between the cast which made us laugh. We loved it and if their next show hadn’t been in such a far-flung spot, we’d have booked up again!
Jacquie Vowles
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