Director: Ryan McBryde.
Starring: Danny Bayne, Naomi Slights, Bethany Linsdell, Alex Lodge.
Synopsis: The date is 1979 and in Brooklyn, New York, Tony Manero, a young man with a dead-end job and an extraordinary ability to dance, has only one ambition in life – to become the disco king. When he meets Stephanie, who also dreams of a world beyond Brooklyn, and they decide to train together for a dance competition, their lives begin to change forever.
Nights On Broadway, If I Can’t Have You, More Than A Woman, You Should Be Dancing, How Deep Is Your Love and the iconic Stayin’ Alive – all songs featured in one of the most popular movies of the late 1970s, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER. The glitzy, and indeed very dark drama, arrived at the same time as that other John Travolta teen movie of the day GREASE, and made him a household name, while at the same time, almost single handily, launching the disco movement with those aforementioned songs from The Bee Gees. Indeed the film’s soundtrack still stands as one of the best-selling of all time, so a musical spin-off was always going to be on the cards.
A musical would take nearly twenty years to reach the stage. The original West End production of Saturday Night Fever, featuring the original music and lyrics from The Bee Gees, would arrive in 1998, directed and choreographed by Arene Phillips (Strictly Come Dancing). The £4 million production starred a youthful Adam Garcia (COYOTE UGLY), and would feature in London’s Theatreland for nearly two years, grabbing numerous awards during that time. Fast-forward nearly a decade and a half, where during that time, productions based on the film have played on Broadway, in Mexico, the Netherlands, Argentina, Germany, Japan, South Korea and many more, we have a brand new touring production from the Theatre Royal Bath and director Ryan McBryde.
Originally based on the New York Times article, Tribal Rights Of A New Saturday Night and Norman Wexler’s original 1970s screenplay, Saturday Night Fever – The Musical’s story revolves around Tony Manero, here excellently played by Danny Bayne, a 19-year-old drop-out who lives for the weekend, and the legendary nights at his local discotheque. His bland Monday to Friday 9-5 is a world away from the hip, much-adored king of the dance floor he becomes when he enters the club each week.
This new production features all of the glitz and glamour of the original movie, and indeed that first big-budget London production, but also includes the more gritty, dark side to the story of Tony Manero, the king of disco swing in 1970s New York. If Arlene Phillips’ original stage show were the fluffy, PG-rated remix of John Badham and Robert Stigwood’s original movie, then this is the original 18-rated version, warts and all.
Despite definitely having a thick layer of American cheese (the wireless, live musical instruments being played as the musicians prance around on the stage, for example), there’s also the dirty, greasy, dark themes on offer that were contained in Norman Wexler’s original screenplay. Four-letter expletives, rape, suicide, drugs, and strong sexual references all feature here; not something you’d find in most modern jukebox musicals.
McBryde’s version is extremely enjoyable and upbeat as well as being true to the original work. The more nostalgic amongst us will revel in the beats and iconic tracks, and the company is fantastic, lead by the brilliant Bayne. Andrew Wright’s thrilling, fast moving, much-varied choreography is bang-on brilliant, and mesmerising to watch and the three-cube, revolving sets are inventive and effective in the many scene changes.
Perhaps not one for the younger musical lovers out there, but definitely one to catch for fans of the story wanting a very different, though honestly original take as it tours the UK throughout 2015.
[usr=3] SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER was reviewed at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking, and is now touring across the UK.
