Save The Last Dance For Me is a “jukebox musical” written by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran. It primarily uses songs from the 1960s written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, such as well-known classics like Viva Las Vegas, A Teenager in Love, Little Sister, and, of course, Save the Last Dance For Me. It’s set against the backdrop of summer in Lowestoft in 1963.
The story is that of sisters Marie and Jennifer, on holiday without their parents for the first time. Jennifer, played by Lola Saunders, is a big sister with a lot of heart, though not a lot of brains. Saunders rich voice does justice to the songs Little Sister and First Taste of Love, where she owns the stage. Marie, played by Elizabeth Carter, is the sweet, intelligent younger sister who falls in love with Curtis, a Black airman from Tennessee. She plays the character beautifully, with her innocence radiating from the stage. Her voice is clear, sharp, and engaging, and she keeps the audience rooting for her throughout.
Wayne Robinson, playing the part of Curtis, is an excellent leading man. He’s kind, loyal, and a perfect romantic interest for this love story. Robinson’s voice is rich and fills the theatre, as does his commanding presence. His sidekick, Milton, played by Blue’s Antony Costa, is an excellent foil and provides perfectly timed comic relief throughout.
The rest of the cast all hold their own as well, and all the music is played by the actors on stage rather than in an orchestra. The choreography is sharp and professional, with every actor giving it their all.
This musical is very much about the music. Granted, the backdrop of interracial relationships and general racism are given an extremely light touch. There’s not a lot of depth to this story, so if you’re looking for something that deals with that subject seriously, this isn’t the musical for you. It’s a sweet, simple love story with an element of conflict, all surrounded by music and dance. But it brings the audience in with references to the differences in American and British English, with references to the weather and holidays, and with characters the audience can identify and laugh with. At the end, the entire audience was out of their seats and dancing for the final numbers.
This is feel good theatre with a happy ending and great music. Well worth your time!
Save the Last Dance For Me plays at Nottingham's Theatre Royal until Saturday 27 August 2016.
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