Bucks County Playhouse offers the stage version of the film that captured hearts and box offices across the country.
By: Stuart Duncan
Musicals that begin on the stage and go to the screen are common, but musicals that start out on film and then are adapted for the stage are rare indeed. In 1984 the movie titled Footloose, starring Kevin Bacon and John Lithgow, captured both hearts and box offices across the country.
It told the story of Ren McCormack, a city boy who moves to a small town with his mom after his father has abandoned them. There he struggles to deal with small-town values, as defined by the local minister. These values include a dancing ban. The film included a half-dozen Top 40 hits and the album became a huge success the song "Footloose" went from gold to platinum to multi-platinum in record time.
The work was the inspiration of Dean Pitchford, who wrote the book, screenplay and lyrics for the film, collaborating with several composers on the movie’s nine tunes. But Pitchford’s first love was the stage; he had been one of the early cast members of Godspell, and it was always his intention to transfer the movie to the theater. It took considerable time, much rewriting and nine additional songs, but the stage version opened at the Kennedy Center in Washington in August 1998, then hit Broadway two months later.
Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, Pa., has revived Footloose for the third year. It is not an easy show since it demands, despite the title, strong acting as well as good singing and ensemble dancing, mostly to a rock beat. For this production, the energy and the voices are there the acting, however, is weak in some roles. Tim Marquette, who plays Ren, the city boy turned country lad, finds most of the rebellious, dark moments but misses the important charismatic charm needed to make the play work. Tom Walker, in the role of Shaw Moore, the town’s wall-eyed minister, is undoubtedly a fine actor, but here is a generation too young for the part.
The ladies do better: Jamie Lynn Udinson is a delightful minister’s daughter with rebellion in her makeup box. Sherry Brinkman is empathetic as her mother. And Eva DeVirgilis, Jill Palena and Deven Miller are knockouts as three town girls. In fact, their number, "Holding Out For A Hero," sung with Ms. Udinson, is a high point of the show. Louis Palena manages to steal a scene or two as Ren’s shy pal, Willard, despite an atrocious blond hair piece.
Next up at the Playhouse is Li’l Abner.
Footloose continues at Bucks County Playhouse, 70 S. Main St., New Hope, Pa., through May 4. Performances: Wed.-Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 4, 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20-$24. For information, call (215) 862-2041. On the Web: www.buckscountyplayhouse.com

