I was invited to see Drifters Girl at Hull New Theatre last night and wow! There are many words to describe this musical, wonderful, uplifting, foot-tapping, want to sing along but I chose SLICK. Boy was this show slick.
Telling the story of the Drifters and the fierce and strong woman behind them, Faye Treadwell (Carly Mercedes Dyer) the audience was treated to song after song from this cast. Shoulders and heads were popping all over the auditorium as we all re-lived our youth. Every generation has its hit-makers and for Boomers, Drifters Girl was perfect to bring back great memories.
I’ve seen casts before where one actor/actress plays multiple parts. However, the change from character to character with a change of hat, coat or props was so slick. (I told you it was my word). The singing was in perfect pitch with again, our cast vocally changing to represent different singers in the Drifters over the years.
As a former dancer, I always look at routines on stage with a critical eye. The cast didn’t need to worry. Along with singing, the dance routines were just step perfect and they moved with such style and rhythm. It was another piece of the jigsaw that transported us back over the decades, seeing those groups that would appear on variety shows on TV, with everyone dancing in unison with simple but smooth and Slick movements. My feet ache this morning with the seat dancing I did.
Remember the songs – Come On Over To My Place, Kissin’ In The Back Row Of The Movies, Saturday Night At The Movies, Save The Last Dance For Me, There Goes My First Love, You’re More Than A Number In My Little Red Book were just a few sung brilliantly by Miles Anthony Daley, Ashford Campbell, Tarik Frimpong, and Daniel Haswell.
The only downside to this musical was my difficulty in catching some of the diction in the fast-moving American accent, but the singing and the memorable songs overrode that as they came in one after another and the cast were rewarded with a standing ovation. There’s a great sing-a-long at the finale which audiences, who have to sit and not sing all though finally get a chance to stand up and sing their hearts out. Hull, you were Slick last night. If the boss gave stars out, then this production would be a 4.5.
