When it comes to enthusiasm, you won’t find any more than on the stage of Theatre Cambrian’s Kids’ Curtain production of Footloose, just in time for the holiday season.
Set in a small nowhere town in the heart of the conservative southern United States, Chicago-raised Ren MacCormack and his mother Ethel find themselves in a place where rock 'n' roll and dancing have been banned, and Ren’s rebellious spirit is about to shake up the populace.
When Ren learns of the laws banning dancing, he quickly becomes the spokesman for the kids in the local high school, as he takes on the authority of their principal, Miss Clarke, the conservative minister, Shaw Moore and the whole of the town’s council.
The show, prepared by vocal director Kathryn Piché, choreographer Skyler Slywchuk, and costumer Trevor Lafond, under the guidance of stage manager, Rachelle St. Denis, and all overseen by director Angel Mannisto, has been created with all the music and visual acuity of the adult productions.
Mannisto’s eye to detail has brought a piece of eye-candy that will satiate your holiday sweet tooth to this community theatre stage.
More visual delight is provided by the lighting designer Tim Stenabaugh and sound director Sean Perras, who gives audiences an audio extravaganza that encourages them to leave the theater, singing up a storm.
Theatre Cambrian’s production of Footloose is fun and energetic and lets the kids delve into the spirit and rebellion of young adults — a time of life that many of them will be experiencing shortly (if they haven’t discovered it already).
An interesting fact is that Footloose is based on a true story.
In 1979, when the high school students in Elmore City, Oklahoma, wanted a senior prom, the city council said that it was against the law to dance within the city limits, thanks to a late 1800s ordinance.
This pitted the city council, led by the local pastor, against the students. It’s from this story that we get some great dance tunes: Footloose, Let's Make Believe We're in Love, Almost Paradise, and Let's Hear It For the Boy.
The show runs until Dec. 18 at Theatre Cambrian’s home at 40 Eyre Street in Sudbury’s west end. Curtain is at 7 p.m. now until Saturday with additional matinee performances at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Doors open 45 minutes before show time. Tickets for all ages are $18 each when paid with cash or cheque — a service charge of $1.00 per ticket applies to credit/debit purchases in the office. Please note, the box office cannot accommodate credit or debit.
Posted by Jenny Jelen
