Saturday Night Fever Festival Theatre

The original Saturday Night Fever dates back to events in Brooklyn, New York in 1979 and this production stays true to its roots as a gritty, real life drama of a young man trying to make something of himself.

Tony Manero (Danny Bayne) is a teenager working in a hardware shop as a salesman, a dead-end, boring job with little or no prospects. His only out is the weekends where his extraordinary ability to dance makes him the Disco King of the dance floor. He wants to win a dance competition to prove he is the best, and to give himself the best chance of winning, he dumps his usual partner Annette (Bethany Linsdell) for Stephanie (Naomi Slights), but she becomes difficult to work with when Tony falls for her – she has far bigger plans for the future.

Director Ryan McBride has cleverly incorporated the realities of life at the time – petrol shortages, family fights and unemployment. The way he utilises the band in the action, playing, acting and dancing is simply superb.

I thought the set design was incredible. Using three large revolving cubes to create a disco, cafe, railway station, a living room and even Brooklyn Bridge.

Foe me, there were five stars: Danny Bayne – his dancing was great as was his singing and acting; Naomi Slights – her singing, dancing and acting were all fantastic; Bethany Linsdell as Annette was also first class, and the Band was a delightful surprise – how could they dance, sing, and play all at the same time?! And finally my favourite: Cici Howells (Club Singer) she was outstanding from start to finish. What a voice!

It might not be the Saturday Night Fever you expect, you might not be Dancing up and down until the encore, but there is brilliant acting, singing and dancing throughout with the classic songs: Jive Talkin’, Tragedy and How Deep Is Your Love.

All in all, this is a very entertaining production, and I would love to go again.

Jim Laidlaw