Rock Around the Clock (Plymouth)

Grab those winklepickers and Brylcreem to complete an unashamedly fun evening with Rock Around The Clock currently touring the UK and caught in Plymouth.

Neil Dorward’s 1950s tribute is a pure showcase of the decade’s best with non-stop classics including “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?”, “Jailhouse Rock”, “Johnny B Goode”, “Blueberry Hill”, “Great Balls Of Fire”, “See You Later Alligator” and “Stupid Cupid”.

Six competent singers, with AnDre Washington consistently good, take an enthusiastic, mainly reminiscing audience on a 75-minute whistle-stop tour of the iconic sounds and images of the time.

There’s no plot, no characters just song after song, dance after dance.

Projected onto a backdrop are film clips and stills of some of the greats such as Presley, The Platters, Fats Domino and Buddy Holly as well as playing card pin-ups and movie moments infusing the dynamic youthful spectacle with genre memory jolters.

Dorward’s choreography is spot-on as eight agile dancers twist and jive, flick and kick in vibrant costumes and styles which brought many a whisper of ‘I had one like that’ or ‘his hair was just like that – when he had some’. But a small (disappointing for some) departure was the absence of stockings and suspenders which, I am reliably informed having only caught the 50s by a couple of months myself, were ubiquitous.

The band replicate the pre-Wall of Sound mono backing superbly with fine sax and guitar solos of note against a plethora of colour changing fairylights but I am unable to name names as sadly lacking was a programme (what a missed income source when playing to a full house) although a photolist of singers and dancers was available.

The keen audience’s enthusiasm was satisfied and all those without hips too badly damaged by twisting in their youths were on their feet and bopping along the moment an invite was extended.

Good fun.