Save the Last Dance For Me Review

Save the Last Dance For Me
New Victoria Theatre, Woking

Reviewed by Danielle Dibsdall

This was my first visit to the New Victoria Theatre in Woking. It is a modern theatre with a practical layout which made the evening easy and stress free. We travelled to Woking by car, there is direct access from the car park into the theatre foyer which is great for those with mobility problems. Upon arrival we were greeted by a very friendly member of staff who pointed us in the direction of the box office to collect our tickets and the bar. The bar area is very large and spacious compared to most theatre bars and the drink prices were reasonable.

Save the last dance for me is a musical set in the 60's about two sisters that embark on their first holiday without their parents. Their destination is a caravan in Lowestoft where the weather is typically British and the town is a little bleak. That is until the sisters befriend an American soldier who invites them to a dance at the Air force Base and you can probably guess the rest.

I am not a fan of theatre shows that are strung together to incorporate certain songs (in this case the hits of Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman) as I generally find that the story lines are weak, but I did really enjoy the show, the storyline and props were simple but the main focus of the show is the music which had the audience singing/tapping/dancing along. The audience were generally older than myself and familiar with all the hits although regardless of age most people would know many of the more famous songs. The cast although lacking in numbers made up for this with enthusiasm they were extremely talented and all cast members had excellent voices, I especially enjoyed their acapella numbers. The choreography was fun and executed well although I did feel the dance routines may have had more impact if they had a larger cast. I have to commend the band who were outstanding not only did they perform on stage but they played all 37 numbers to a very high standard.

Overall Save the Last Dance for Me is a feel good show with lots of laughter and lively music. I would recommend the show to others especially if you are a fan of Pomus & Shuman's music or grew up in the 60's.

Rating: 4/5

For more information on shows or to book tickets for shows at the New Victoria Theatre click here.