Pamela Raith Photography
Saturday Night Fever was an era defining film, capturing the essence of the disco club scene. The film takes the escapism of disco dancing and sets it against the hard edge of life growing up in Brooklyn, blending hits from the Bee Gees with the story of a New Yorker Tony Manero, the King of the ‘2001’ club.
Tony works hard in a paint store, dreaming of moving up in the world and trying hard to make it. However, his heart lies in dancing as it’s the only place he gets ‘the buzz’ and feels that he is truly good at something. His family make him feel he is a disappointment, and his struggling father belittles him when he finally gets a pay rise. The expectation of not being as good as his catholic priest brother is too much and he hopes of moving out of his parents home. His weekend escape into dancing at Club 2001 gives him the opportunity to win $1000 in a competition, and the chance to break free. But Tony is conflicted and the path to the prize is not simple. He has to choose between an old flame or to partner with the new dancer on the block. Does he want to win the competition or is he more interested in maintaining the respect and admiration of his friends?
This adaptation is full of energy and impact; the smooth disco moves given an added flourish with Richard Winsor’s ballet influence, which showed in the precision of the classic moves and flow of the slower numbers. He portrayed the lead role strongly despite John Travolta being an extremely tough act to follow. He brings all the swagger and attitude to his performance and you feel that the cast also raised their game to the next level.
The choreography of all the dance routines was excellent and showed great polish. The atmosphere of the disco was brilliantly recreated and the impact of the music really blew your socks off, you really felt like you were part of the scene with so many glitter balls. You could almost forgive an audio technical glitch in the first half, which the cast professionally ignored. Of course the show would not be complete without a quality band, the Gibb Brothers falsetto harmonies were silky smooth.
Saturday Night Fever makes a great stage show with top music, drama and disco, thoroughly enjoyable.
Saturday Night Fever is running at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking until Saturday 10th August 2019 before continuing on its nationwide tour.
