Shout! The Mod Musical
Momentum Grand at St Stephen’s
Verdict: 3 stars
This debut production by Max Emmerson is electrifying, taking the audience back to the sixties with its distinctive vibe.
The musical takes a group of five girls wondering what to do with themselves as they go into adulthood. Distinguished by colours representing each girl’s personality, the performers take the stage with grace as they take an audience of all ages back in time for an hour.
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In pursuit of guidance, the girls contact Gwendolyn Holmes, an agony aunt which delivers humourous and heartwarming elements as the girls’ stories cleverly develop.
The choreography formulated by Andrew McKay is sometimes a bit cheesy. However it remains true to the era, being fun and energetic throughout as the cast demonstrates real stamina with such a commendable performance while singing and dancing in tandem.
The accoustics of the Momentum Grand unfortunately means some of the singing is lost, resulting in the production losing some of the power it possibly needed to convey a stronger message. The show itself does not lack in passion, however, and is big on audience interaction, building up to an ending that reminds older members of the audience of innocence and frivolity in the era they grew up in.
Shout! The Mod Musical takes an era of change and enthusiasm successfully into 2015 by means of a fabulous performance.
Eve Austin, News Academy for The Sunday Times