I was excited to review Saturday Night Fever at the Richmond Theatre. It was one of my favourite films as a teenager. I hadn’t massively thought it through though. This film was released nearly forty years ago. The Bee Gees are not at the top of the charts anymore. The audience was not what you would call a young crowd. In fact far from it – I was a bit surprised – because essentially it is still a young story. It’s a shame it hasn’t yet had it’s second coming. Sure it will and one day my children will LOVE wearing flares and dancing to “Stayin’ Alive” (flares, I gather are on the way back, so watch this space).
The film was originally released in the UK in March 1978 when disco was still in it’s prime. I have very specific memories of that film – mostly John Travolta obviously – who frankly made the film, so I imagine made casting for the play almost impossible. But this play isn’t the evening of nostalgia I was expecting – the director Ryan McBryde, has found a different way to connect with a 21st century audience, by taking the raw themes and highlighting those in a slightly different way. Danny Bayne who plays Tony Manero had a pair of very tight boots to fill (and trousers) but he takes the role and makes it his own.
It was a clever set and a brilliantly talented cast who do everything – act, play the instruments, dance and sing, not an easy musical to perform by any stretch of the imagination – the photos will give you the best idea of what to expect:-
