Dreamboats and Petticoats

Churchill Theatre, Bromley

If you need something you can guarantee will lift your spirits in these gloomy winter days, then a visit to this musical will do the job and you don't need to have lived through the Fifties and Sixties to enjoy it.

The scene setter is a young girl going through her grandad's attic and comes across an old record player and hidden beneath a blanket, an electric guitar. Grandad starts telling her of his "almost" claim to fame.

You are whisked back in time to a school youth club where everyone knows each other and Ray (Will Finlason) is persuading Bobby (Greg Fossard) to audition as lead singer for a new group singing Let's Dance. Just as Bobby thinks he has the part, in swaggers "The Fonz" lookalike Norman (Matthew Colthart).

His rendition of The Wanderer gets him the part and Bobby sulks off to be consoled by Ray's sister, shy schoolgirl Laura (Hannah Boyce), who has a secret crush on Bobby. But Bobby only has eyes for cool Sue (Louise Olley) and rebuffed Laura sings To Know Him Is To Love Him.

The school announces a song writing competition and Bobby and Laura team up and start writing.

Then it's a school trip off to the fair with electric bumper cars snaking around the stage and the youths enjoying the stalls and attractions. Sue and Norman sneak off for time alone but then Norman brags about his conquest. Bobby defends Sue's reputation and there is an amazing boxing ring scene with the fight taking place as if time had been slowed down .

Sue decides to make Norman jealous, so she flirts with Bobby. In an effort to make Sue "his girl", Bobby starts to ignore Laura and the writing.

At Laura's 16th birthday party the little bud blossoms - gone are the pig tales, braces and glasses and out bursts the girl everyone wants to date. Bobby realises his mistake and love shines true.

The way the songs intertwine with the storyline is great. Renditions of You Won't Catch Me Crying as Bobby is rebuffed; Little Town Flirt as Sue toys with Bobby's affections; Do You Wanna Dance? as Laura tries to get noticed; Great Pretender as Norman toys with Laura's emotions and my favourite as the gang torment Laura when wearing a red scarf Ray leads the singing of Bobby's Girl.

And, of course, as Bobby and Laura finally recognise their love for each other, Dreamboats and Petticoats.

The finale is a celebration of the era as the audience jumps up from their seats and joins in the greats such as Let's Twist Again; C'mon Everybody and At The Hop.

As the curtain comes down there is a huge cheer from the audience and everybody leaves smiling and talking about what a great show they have just witnessed. You could hear and feel the buzz right out onto the street.

The show is full of dance, fun, energy, romance and, of course, great songs and music. It will appeal to those who lived through this fast energetic time of youth to those less familiar with the oldies but will connect with the storyline.

Greg's role as a naive 17-year-old starts with a rather insecure scratchy rendition of Let's Dance but as his confidence grows, so does his vocal range. Hannah has a lovely voice and my only gripe would be that sometimes she was drowned out by the overly loud background music. But saying that, the band certainly could play those tunes!

Dreamboats and Petticoats is at the theatre every night until Saturday, February 15. For tickets visit the website http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/the-churchill-theatre-bromley/

Debbie Edwards