Stage: This week a brief glimpse at a few theatrical treats
Foot tapping & Fascinating
This April, a sensational new musical is set to showcase the greatest hit songs of the ‘60s. Dreamboats & Miniskirts, the sequel to the sellout Dreamboats & Petticoats, arrives in Crawley. Since its premiere in 2009, Dreamboats & Petticoats has become a musical phenomenon, having played to more than two million people across the UK, and inspired by Universal’s multi-million selling album series – which now boasts seven double compilation albums and myriad one-off special releases. Now the creative team reunite for the sequel.
It’s 1963, and the world is changing. Bobby and Laura’s single ‘Dreamboats and Petticoats’ is only half a hit. Norman and Sue have settled down to non-marital bliss – and a baby. And Ray and Donna seem blissfully happy…
The advent of The Beatles and the Merseyside sound is inspirational. But will it inspire Bobby and Laura to have one more shot at stardom – Norman to “get off the drains” and find that hit parade voice he has longed for, and Ray to realise his ambition and manage a really top pop act? All is revealed in this follow-up with the same wit, charm and great songs as Dreamboats & Petticoats.
Dreamboats & Miniskirts is written by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, the team behind Goodnight Sweetheart, Birds of a Feather, The New Statesman, Shine on Harvey Moon, Save the Last Dance For Me and of course, Dreamboats & Petticoats, and is produced by Bill Kenwright and Laurie Mansfield in association with Universal Music.
Featuring hit after hit, from ‘Twist And Shout’ to ‘Handy Man’ to ‘Pretty Woman’, ‘One Fine Day’ and many more, Dreamboats & Miniskirts is happiness guaranteed.
Tickets: Tue-Thur, £31. Fri & Sat eve, £33. Wed & Thur at 2.30pm, £25. Sat 2.30pm, £30. Discounts: (Mon-Thur eves), £3 off. To book your place call The Hawth Box Office on 01293 553636 or visit www.hawth.co.uk
Charm Offensive
Fascinating Aida, Britain’s best-loved comedy cabaret trio, who in 2013 celebrated 30 years of their unique brand of filthy, witty and fabulous entertainment, will finish their epic tour of hit show Charm Offensive with a final potty mouthed journey round the UK during Spring 2015, including The Hawth this March.
Fascinating Aida has clocked up over 17 million views on YouTube and counting, and their videos have become viral phenomena multiple times. Dillie Keane, Adele Anderson and Liza Pulman’s infamous anthem to budget travel, ‘Cheap Flights’, has had over 12,000,000 hits to date, both officially and thanks to multiple uploads from fans, including translations into Hebrew, Russian and Italian. In 2013, they released a freshly minted song on YouTube entitled ‘The Ofsted Song’ which gained 100,000 hits within seven days of posting. Finally, they released their own outrageous Christmas Carol, ‘Try Not To Be A C*** at Christmas’ – in 2013 it had 150,000 hits in a fortnight, and 60,000 on Christmas Day alone. When re-released on Facebook for 2014, it was viewed over 750,000 times in just four days. And not forgetting Dillie’s infamous dirty ditty ‘Dogging’, which has had 2,000,000 hits and counting…
Dillie Keane founded Fascinating Aida in 1983 (and was joined by key writing partner Adele Anderson in 1984) and since then the group has played in hundreds of theatres in the UK and Ireland. They have made many television appearances and radio recordings, released seven CDs, three DVDs, two videos, an autobiography and a songbook, and have also been nominated for several awards – Perrier (once), Olivier (three nominations) and New York Drama desk (three nominations). In 2013 they won Best Musical Act in the London Cabaret Awards.
Friday 20 March 7.30pm, The Hawth Crawley
