| About Rachel... | I love Nottingham so much I actually stayed on to do English at university here. My passions in life are reading and writing, which is apt as I also work in my local library. My favourite things about Nottingham are the shops (well I am a girl!), the friendly people, the dinging of the tram bell and the word 'mardy'. |
You can't really go wrong with that soundtrack, can you? These Bee Gees classics are so indestructible that they'd probably survive nuclear war. Yet, believe it or not, it's not the songs that are the highlight… | "The Spanish-tinged dance of Cesar and Maria is so breath-taking that you might even need an inhaler." | | Rachel Read |
If you've ever thought Arlene Phillips seemed mildly deranged in her quest for perfection as a judge on 'Strictly Come Dancing', this is why. Her choreography here is, quite frankly, stunning.
There are lifts that you thought only circus performers could do, made all the more amazing by the fact that about five couples do them all at the same time. The cast perform each move so crisply and flawlessly, with an energy that would leave the Duracell Bunny trailing. The Spanish-tinged dance of Cesar and Maria (Joe McMurray and Rebecca Sutherland) is so breath-taking that you might even need an inhaler.
 | | Saturday Night Fever |
Pair such dances with evergreen disco stompers like 'Stayin' Alive', 'Night Fever' and 'Disco Inferno' and you've got it made really. Sean Mulligan is a brilliantly athletic lead, though I don't think he ever quite reaches the soul of the role that John Travolta managed in the film. But when he dances to what looks like near-death in the utter highlight that is 'Boogie Shoes', such a minor flaw is quickly forgotten. Anne Robinson would not be pleased, for there is no weak link in this entire, sizeable cast. 'Musicality' winner Rebecca Dent sparkles as brightly as the copious glitter-balls in the auditorium as the lovelorn Annette, and her 'If I Can't Have You' gave me goosebumps. Stephen Webb's heartfelt rendition of 'Tragedy' gives Dent a run for her money in the emotion stakes whilst Matthew Cutts, as cheesy DJ Monty, does his best to steal scenes, laughs and the audience's heart. A final mention for the dazzling set and the glorious 70s costumes, which add hugely to the spectacle of the show itself. I saw 'Saturday Night Fever' a few years ago at the Theatre Royal, yet this is a production that really belongs at the Concert Hall, with the bigger stage meaning that the excellent ensemble pieces are showcased to the best effect.
If you aren't up and dancing by the exuberant encore, I suggest you check for a pulse because this is a musical that positively brims with life. Never mind just Saturday Night, I'd quite happily catch this fever every night of the week. | 
