Review • The Chronicle

QUITE AN EXPERIENCE
There are few shows which capture the 60's like A Slice of Saturday Night. The lively show, performed by BROS Theatre Company, is packed with music and dancing but a more serious undercurrent flows through it. When a group of 17-year olds begin to discover some terrifying emotions related to growing up, the show becomes much more of an excuse for a nostalgic wallow.

BROS's two directors Melanie Edwards and Wesley Henderson-Roe delivered a very rounded portrayal of the adolescent world. The cast rose to every challenge whether musical, dramatic, funny, wry or tragic.

Derek Ruby led the ensemble as Eric de Vene, owner of Club A Go-Go giving a tremendous performance cloaking his sense of responsibility for the kids beneath a cynical veneer, fooling them but not us.

He was supported brilliantly by his staff, Lea Cairns as dancer Bertha and the group The Trends under the direction of Philip Shute who underpinned the whole evening with a vigorous performance.

Most outstanding of the youngsters were couple Rick and Sharon. He was thoroughly inexperienced and terrified of making a fool of himself, she regretful of having 'done it' and now wise enough to see in Rick the possibility of something a little bit special. Clare Burgess struck just the right note as Sharon, a touch sad yet potentially a woman of real emotion while Rob Hamer Jones is a real find. His singing voice was rich and powerful and his interpretation of soliloquy 'The Long Walk Back' was genuinely moving.

Annie Marwood was a splendid ice-maiden as Bridget, and Mark Fallon a gloriously blustery Gary, while Lisa Rose was perfect as Sue who wants to marry him. These are just a few of the able performers who all deserved a mention especially for their revival of my youth, even if only on their stage.

George Allen
The Chronicle