AS the nights draw in and the first frosts appear Darlington
Hippodrome brings a touch of warmth with a return to the summer in the 1963 musical
Summer Holiday. This feel good musical is filled with song and dance. Former X
Factor star Ray Quinn, plays Don, who sets off with his friends in a revamped
London bus for a well-deserved holiday, looking for sun and adventure. On their
travels they pick up an all-girl singing group who are in distress with a broken-down
car p
romising to get them to Athens for a gig, then they encounter a stow away running from her domineering mother and agent. The story may be fixed firmly in the 60’s and isn’t the type of story which would be written today, but it isn’t trying to be anything other than 2 hours of complete escapism with the tracks of Cliff Richard, giving today's audience a great night out.
The set of course has to include the full-size double decker
red London bus which is moved around the stage swiftly and effectively.
Ray Quinn certainly brings a sense of style to the
production and shows what a talented musical theatre performer he is. Most of
the comedy comes from the superb partnership of Barbara’s mother, Taryn
Sudding, and her agent, Wayne Smith. Their scenes are an absolute delight.
The finale, with most of the audience on their feet, showed
the cast were having as much fun as the audience.
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