REVIEW: Dreamboats and Miniskirts, Bridlington Spa

Pucker up – ready for a great big Sixties smacker right on the lips from this jukebox musical.
Dreamboats and MiniskirtsDreamboats and Miniskirts
Dreamboats and Miniskirts

It twists, shouts, does the hippy hippy shake and has the audience begging for encore after encore.

A sequel to Dreamboats and Petticoats, it picks up the story of Bobby and Laura – writing songs but a hit evades them – courting couple Ray and Donna – and Norman and Sue, now married and expecting their first baby.

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They are all still chasing the dream – to make it to the top of the charts.

It is, again, by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran – the writers of Birds of a Feather and Goodnight Sweetheart. So it has pedigree. The plot is sinewy and witty– and often laugh-out loud funny.

But this is about the music – the cast sing, dance and play the drums, guitars, piano, saxophones and trumpets – and the hits roll in.

Picture of You, Groovy Kind of Love, It’s in His Kiss, Be My Baby, Stay, When Will I Be Loved, I Get Around and If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody.

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There was the harmony of Stranger on the Shore, Baby I’m Yours and Breaking Up is Hard to Do – the rock of Twist and Shout and Pretty Woman brings the audience to their feet.

This is an ensemble piece where every performer gives it their all – but, of course, there are stand-out performances. The couples are a perfect match, Elizabeth Carter as Laura and Alex Beaumont as Bobby, the naive young lovers, Alastair Hill as Norman and Louise Olley as Sue – the seasoned couple – and Anna Campkin as Donna and David Luke as Ray, the inbetweeners. Alan Howell as Tony, a record producer, also has his moments especially in his performance of House of the Rising Sun.

This is first-class entertainment – sizzling with energy, packed with hit songs delivered by talented performers. It will have you twisting and shouting in the aisles.

It is at Bridlington Spa until Saturday February 14, daily at 7.30pm with matinees on Wednesday February 11 and Saturday February 14 at 2.30pm

Review by Sue Wilkinson