Bill Kenwright presents
Saturday
Night Fever
Newcastle
Theatre Royal
Tuesday
5th – Saturday 9th March 2019
Based on the Paramount/RSO film and the story by Nick Cohn.
Adapted for the stage by Robert Stigwood in collaboration
with Bill Oakes
In the past stage plays have always been great inspiration
for films. It would seem in recent years a shift has occurred and everyone is
making stage adaptations of hit movies, especially musicals. Ghost, Dirty
Dancing, Footloose and The Wedding Singer have all proved hugely successful as
audiences head to see shows they’ll recognise from their film counterparts.
This week’s offering is the stage adaptation of the 1977 disco classic drama,
Saturday Night Fever.
Saturday Night Fever follows the life of Tony Manero, who
escapes harsh working class realities whilst on a reckless, yet thrilling road
to dancing success. The narrative is simple and easy to follow but it’s not the
story that is the star of the show here anyway. This is a show about DISCO! The
music, the dance and the spectacle. The film’s soundtrack remains one of the
best selling of all time, featuring the Bee Gees' hits Stayin’ Alive, How Deep
Is Your Love, Night Fever, and Tragedy. In this show the songs are superbly
performed from a raised stage by Edward Handoll, Alastair Hill and Matt Faull
playing the Bee Gees. It’s a brilliant device in this show and I often found
myself watching these guys perform as the Bee Gees as much as I was watching
the show!
Richard Winsor (Casualty) takes on the lead role here,
played by John Trovolta in the movie version. Winsor can really move. He has
the male chauvinist attitude of the 70’s whilst retaining a vulnerability and
charm that allows the audience to fall in love with him and they really do.
Winsor has a stellar cast around him that give a superb ensemble performance.
The real stand out for me though has to be Faizal Jaye who played DJ Monty. His
energy and dancing were on another level and every time he was on stage I was
transfixed.
The real star of this show is the Choreography. Bill Dreamer has filled the stage with a
non-stop, fast-paced disco explosion of dance. It’s sexy, it’s energetic and
it’s unashamedly disco, an absolute joy to watch.
Saturday
Night Fever is a wildly entertaining, slick and sexy show that will give you
the night fever and by the end of the show, you should be dancing!
The show does contain some strong language and some
outdated 70’s sexism which is key to the story but means the show may not be
suitable for younger audiences.
Review: Stephen Sullivan
Photo: Pamela Raith Photography
Tickets:
Saturday Night Fever is at
Newcastle Theatre Royal between Tuesday 5 and Saturday 9 March 2019 playing
evenings at 7.30pm (Fri 8.30pm) and matinees Thu 2pm, Fri 5pm, and Sat 2.30pm.
Tickets from £15.50 can be
purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7ppm plus your phone
company’s access charge) or book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk.
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