Dreamboats and Petticoats (Tour – Manchester)

Writers Laurence Marks and Maurice
Gran have taken their combined writing skills, honed around TV sitcoms, and
created a story based around 39 iconic tracks of the era. The plot is of a naïve boy,
Bobby, who doesn’t realise his best friends sister, Laura, is in love with him.
In the meantime he’s too busy lusting after the ‘Jezebel’ of the youth club.

In the meantime, the object of his affection, Sue (yep, she runs around!) is busy trying to make the older
‘bad boy’ interested in her. The predictable twists and turns abound, until at
the end everybody is paired up correctly.

Josh Capper is an endearingly
unworldly Bobby. The character is a big fan of Roy Orbison and sings several
numbers, but while he
has a great voice,
unfortunately it doesn’t have the depth of the Big O, which makes occasional
notes a little strained.

His best friend Ray (Gareth Leighton) is far more
worldly-wise but in his own way just as charming. He too is given the chance to
shine in some numbers,
and proves himself more than capable of putting on a great performance. Daniella
Bowen is an engaging Laura and sings her heart out, both in the slow and fast
tracks.

The show, though, is stolen by
Jonathan Bremner as bad boy Norman. A brash egotistical rocker, he turns out to
be a bit of a softy, getting the girl who really loves him in the end. Bremner
has a great voice, whether belting out “The Wanderer” or going softer with “The
Great Pretender”, but combined with his comedic ability, he becomes a high point
of the show.

The rest of the cast is also suitably talented. Like Buddy, this
musical relies upon the performers being able to sing, dance and play musical
instruments, and the ensemble cast continually prove themselves in this way.

Director Bob Tomson has taken a
predominantly young cast and made them all shine. Dreamboats and Petticoats may
not be the most sophisticated evening out, but for sheer fun it takes some beating.

– Helen Jones