Shout!, Connaught Theatre, Worthing, April 8

11:05am Friday 11th April 2008

Shout! is a nostalgic trip for those of us who spent our youth enjoying the Swinging Sixties.

Telling the tale of three girls who come to London at the start of 1960, it follows their lives through that exciting decade. The plot is a skimpy one and its writing, in need of beefing up in places, is unlikely to win the any prizes, but who cares? It's the music that makes the show.

The storyline is just a framework from which to hang 32 great songs and the treatment they receive from the hard-working cast is first rate. Delivered with great energy and choreography, the audience hardly has time to catch its breath.

To introduce each year, the device of quotes from a magazine for "modern women" is used to comment on the social and sexual changes taking place, along with send-ups of the adverts of the day. In delivering these, Howard Jones shows his skill in a range of character parts.

But it's the powerful singing of the girls, led by Claire Sweeney, which makes the show. Sue Pollard provides broad comedy and astonishes with her strong singing voice. The cast fully deserved the standing ovation they received.

Editor's Choice