Footloose: Orpheus Musical etc etc

photo: Andrew Alexandre

The best reason for the Orpheus Musical Theatre Society’s choice of Footloose as its season opener is that the large-cast musical offers numerous opportunities for young performers to display their talents. The worst reason is that the storyline is painfully thin and the premise is highly implausible.

Based on the 1984 musical, the stage version opened on Broadway 14 years later and hung on for over 700 performances. In a similar category to Rent, Grease and other teenage-angst style of shows, it is simply not of the same quality as the other two (this from someone who is not enamoured of either Rent or Grease). In addition to the weakness of the Footloose script, most of the music is forgettable and the conclusion is obvious from the outset.

Set in Bomont, a bible-thumping small town in the backwaters of the U.S., the local minister, Rev. Moore, has convinced local lawmakers to outlaw dancing, which, like alcohol and drugs, he claims, was in part responsible for a car crash that killed four of the town’s teenagers (including his son).

When Ren McCormack and his financially strapped mother are deserted by his father, they must move from Chicago to stay with her sister and brother-in-law in Bomont. When Ren connects with the minister’s rebellious daughter, Ariel, the fight for the freedom to dance is on.

The irony is that Footloose is primarily a dance musical. It is, therefore, a relief that Gabe Wolinsky’s choreography in the Orpheus production sparkles and that the high-energy ensemble numbers are performed with precision. And, as Ren, Mathieu –Philippe Perras really kicks up his heels.

While few of the musical numbers are memorable, under musical director Wendy Berkelaar, they are generally well presented and some of the voices, particularly Rebecca Abbott’s and Donna Castonguay’s, more than make up for the silliness of the script.

The closest to a showstopper is the Mama Says number, sung by Willard (Phillip Merriman and his sidekicks. The trio of Rusty (Abbott), Wendy Jo (Stephanie Stroud) and Urleen (Andrea Black) does an excellent job of maintaining the flow and Courtney Vezina as Ariel is convincing as the Moore’s rebel daughter ready to do anything to get out of town.

Director Shaun Toohey appears to have concentrated the show’s energy on the younger cast members, because most of the older performers (partly because of the script) are lightly drawn ciphers that fade into the background and lack the energy that the younger cast members project in spades. Sadly, this sometimes includes Rev. Moore (Ken Tucker) despite his fine singing voice. His characterization just does not give the impression that he can influence an entire town to do his bidding.

The most depressing aspect of the show is that Toohey opts for a cheap laugh by allowing one of the characters to simulate a solo sexual act — an unnecessary crudity, especially in view of the number of pre-teen children in the audience.

On the other hand, the clever staging of Holding Out for a Hero and Cindy Beaton’s comic cameo on roller skates are fun. However, despite Nancy Solman’s efficient set design, the show drags, particularly in Act I. The only scene that comes close to being moving is the encounter between Ren and the minister when they both recognize that they must come to terms with the loss of a loved one. Here is a moment that goes deeper than the general shallowness of the rest of Footloose.

The Orpheus Musical Theatre society production of Footloose continues at Centrepointe Theatre to December 2.

Director: Shaun Toohey

Musical director: Wendy Berkelaar

Choreographer: Gabe Wolinsky

Set: Nancy Solman

Lighting: John Solman

Sound: John Cybanski

Costumes: Richard Clement

Cast:

Rev. Shaw Moore	Ken Tucker
Vi Moore	Donna Castonguay
Ariel Moore	Courtney Vezina
Ren McCormack	Mathieu-Philippe Perras
Ethel McCormack	Debbie Millett
Lulu Warnicker	Alison Foley Howard
Wes Warnicker	Michael Schilder
Coach Roger Dunbar	Rob Singlehurst
Eleanor Dunbar	Liane Wray
Rusty	Rebecca Abbott
Urleen	Andréa Black
Wendy Jo	Stephanie Stroud
Chuck Cranston	Brennan Richardson
Lyle	Brandyn Mascall
Travis	Drake Evans
Betty Blast	Cindy Beaton
Principal Harry Clark	Lawrence Evenchick
Willard Hewitt	Phillip Merriman
Jeter	Jordan King
Bickle	Andrew Portolesi
Garvin	Alex William Brunjes
Cowboy Bob	Dave Rowan
Adult Ensemble:	Andrew Botros, Mary Connelly, Michelle Dennis, Tim Hillock, Sally McIntyre, Shawn Smith, Jim Tanner
Teen Ensemble:	Tessa Bangs, Mary Bernadette Belanger,Danielle Denisko, Hayley Doelman, Peter Doherty, Greg Fenelon, Tanika Johnny Gauntts, Sarah Marks. Jacob Roberts, Dave Rowan, Jeremy Sanders, Sierra Slegtenhorst, Tasia Loeffler Vulpe, Evan Welchner