Dreamcoats and Miniskirts is quite simply all about the music.
Whether you love jukebox musicals or hate them, this is a jukebox musical. Nearly forty classics hits from the 1960s are performed much to the delight of the audience. The songs cover a wide range of styles, soft ballads and folk classics together with a heavy helping of Rock and Roll keeping the audience tapping their feet and clapping their hands.
Produced by Bill Kenwright, Dreamboats and Miniskirts is the sequel to Dreamboats and Petticoats. There is a story but it is almost superfluous and you certainly can catch up with the storyline if you haven’t seen the original show. Dreamcoats and Miniskirts centres around a group of teenagers trying to break into the music business. Whilst record contracts are held in the balance and the usual relationship and friendship issues to add drama the dialogue is kept at a minimal and serves only to link the songs together.
The cast are undoubtedly musically talented and in most cases play a variety of instruments. The songs are performed well and are very entertaining.
The costume designer has had a lot of fun with the show, there are not many shows you can dress the cast in purple suits and completely get away with it. The Mary Quant style dresses were divine.
Scores of people filled the theatre remembering fondly the music of a bygone age, and even though personally I would have preferred more substance to the story I did appreciate the music. Whether you enjoy the era or not there is no doubt at all that these songs have stood the test of time and it does make me wonder how many of today’s hits we will be singing in 50 years time.
I recommend Dreamboats and Petticoats for a nostalgic trip down memory lane.