Footloose

Footloose
BDT Stage
Boulder, CO
May 21 - September 3, 2016

Footloose is from an era when Broadway was hot on changing popular movies into big budget musicals. Some of those shows were more successful than others. Footloose seems to be an odd choice.

One of the biggest obstacles the creators had to overcome was the music from the film. The songs are great, but the lyrics usually don’t fit the storyline at all. Some like “Footloose” worked in without much trouble. But others like “Let’s Hear It For the Boy, “Holding Out For A Hero” and “I’m Free” are awkward at best. The songs added for the stage production are mostly forgettable, but they do move the story along.

Despite these noticeable script flaws, the BDT Stage has created an energetic show. The costumes, while more character driven than authentically 1980’s, were fun.  Ariel’s skimpy outfits were a bit much – especially when she wore them in front of her father who didn’t seem to have any reaction.

The set was well thought out. It featured playing areas on multiple levels which were used effectively. The script calls for several scenes on a bridge over train tracks and they delivered them in convincing fashion. The changes into a restaurant and the Moore’s home were impressive in their detail and quick set up.

It is the dancing which takes center stage, as it should be. The choreography is high energy and evokes the 1980’s without appearing dated. This show calls for numerous large scale sequences and the cast delivered on each one. “I’m Free” was particularly engaging – a great feat considering the awkwardness of the song set in the school gym.

The character of Ariel seemed two-dimensional at first, but as the story progressed, she became more compelling. Ren was attractive if not charismatic. The true heart of the show was Reverend Moore. Despite the almost cliché role he was given, he came across as genuine and ultimately evolved into the pillar of the community the audience wanted to see. During his final monologue he held the audience captive with emotion.

The characters of Rusty and Willard did plenty of scene stealing of their own. Both were fun and awkward in their own right (and much more realistic than either Ariel or Ren). Throughout the show the audience is rooting for them to finally get together.

While the show is not exactly a time capsule, it does take the audience back to an era where teen films spoke for American youth.