SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER | STAGE REVIEW
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Tue 27 Nov
Reminisce, laugh, have fun and escape for a few hours with great dancing, acting and singing: what more do you want to brighten a cold, wet November evening?
I loved the original Saturday Night Fever movie and watched it six or seven times, so was intrigued to see the West End stage show In all its splendour and wasn’t disappointed – this is a fantastic interpretation of the iconic film. It was even worth wearing my white three-piece suit and black shirt to the Wales Millennium Centre, drifting back to my early teens with the musical aid of the Bee Gees – who, over 40 years ago, brought disco to a worldwide audience with their iconic Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.
The talented Richard Winsor played the lead as Tony Manero, the role that not only made Travolta a superstar but persuaded men it was cool to dance rather than just watch women cutting shapes on the dancefloor. Staying Alive, Boogie Shoes and Disco Inferno had the audience reminiscing and moving to these classics; Night Fever had us wanting to stand up and hold one arm in the air, the move that John Travolta made his own. If I Can’t Have You was followed by You Should Be Dancing, taking us to the interval.
The second part of the show was as great as the first. Classic lines like “I wanna strut!” and “I work on my hair a long time and you hit it!” had fans showing their appreciation with laughter and knowing smiles, while Jive Talking and More Than A Woman got everyone tapping their feet. Classic Bee Gees tracks which weren’t part of the original film but added to some of the more emotional scenes – Tragedy, Too Much Heaven, Immortality – fitted in perfectly.
The legendary How Deep Is Your Love? ended a fantastic stage show. Everyone was on their feet for a standing ovation, the finale getting everyone dancing to Disco Inferno, Night Fever and a You Should Be Dancing megamix. A special mention, also, to would-be Bee Gees Edward Handoll, Alastair Hill and Matt Faull, who sang every song on a raised gantry and never missed a bar.
words KEV PEDARLINO photos PAMELA RAITH