Dreamboats and Miniskirts - Milton Keynes Theatre 
6th October - 11th October 2014

This new musical, the sequel to the smash hit Dreamboats and Petticoats is set to be as equally as successful.

Dreamboats and miniskirts story moves onto the "Swinging Sixties" (1962 and 1963 to be precise) when British pop really took centre stage.

It was the dawn of the era of the miniskirt, courtesy of fashion icon Mary Quant in '64, Twiggy and of course the birth of The Beatles.

The same characters are all here, Bobby (Alex Beaumont) and Laura (Elizabeth Carter) Norman (Ross William Wild) and Sue (Louise Olley) and not forgetting Ray (David Luke) and Donna (Anna Campkin).

Bobby and Laura are in the midst of a somewhat dwindling recording career when on a live television show Bobby is made a fool of and ends with the sugary sweet couple parting as a duo...

Bobby decides to join Ray and the other members of the band The Conquests, enlisting the newly married with baby on the way, Norman.  The band are waiting for that one hit...their BIG break...but will they make it??  Laura is picked for solo stardom, will she make top of the pops??

Of course they do - this is a saccharine rich feel good musical where every boy gets their girls AND everyone gets a record deal!

As I looked around the auditorium it was easy to see that the majority of the audience didn't need to read all about the '60's quite as intently as I did - they were chatting, exchanging memories because they had lived it, loved it and it was clear they were here to have a really good time.

This musical just bursts with 60's hits (far too many to mention) they come thick and fast - all performed live throughout and brilliantly so.  The vocal talents of all the leads is undeniable, particularly the brilliant and powerful Louise Olley as Sue.

The stand out performances of the night had to be Chloe Edwards-Wood (Tenor Saxophone/Clarinet) and Charlotte Peak (Bass Saxophone/Flute).  When the girls strutted their stuff on the stage it was hard to believe just how good they were, to be able to sing, dance and act whilst playing at the same time - they made it look effortless.

The whole cast are uber talented and with each up beat number after the other, they gave it their all, injecting such energy to the story.

I particularly loved the rendition of "Twist and Shout" performed by The Liverpool Foursome with the Cavern Club as the back drop , the performance was outstanding and I wanted more!

A mention must also to the whole cast who mesmerized the audience with an a cappella version of "You Really Got a Hold On Me" - utterly brilliant.

The story is a little loose, but it holds the string of hits together nicely.  Dreamboats and Miniskirts has some very funny one liners - delivered well, music that will have your feet tapping throughout and vocal/musical talent in abundance.

The only one criticism to this production is that, I and my fellow theatre goers were itching to get up and dance. All were waiting to be invited to jump up out of their seats, I could see the expectation in all of the faces around me - "Hippy Hippy Shake" was the penultimate song, the cast took their curtain call, came back out again and the much awaited moment we had waited for had arrived...

...only for the cast to sing a slow love song "When You're Young and In Love". 

It was very beautifully sung, but I think they missed a trick with not engaging the audience for the last song, to allow the buzz of an up tempo song to still be resonating in their ears as they left the auditorium. 

Go to see this show for the live music and talent on stage, not the story and you won't be disappointed.

Enjoy!

Lily B x