REVIEW: Clayton's 'Footloose' Delivers Energy, Impressive Dancing

With its spectacular performance of Footloose, a feel-good musical with an upbeat score and witty dialogue, blew the audience away.  

A seemingly ordinary high school boy named Ren is forced to leave his life in Chicago behind and start over in Bomont, a small town in the middle of nowhere. Ren soon discovers that it is his job to make a difference and turn this lame town into one that he can learn to love.  

With its fantastic cast and crew, gorgeous set, and impressive lighting effects that set the mood for this lively production, Clayton delivered a lovely performance.

Footloose opened on Broadway on Oct. 22, 1998, at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. Created by Walter Bobbie and Dean Pitchford, with its music composed by Tom Snow, it ran for a total of 709 performances on Broadway.  

As the story develops, Ren meets the town’s uptight preacher and his beautiful daughter Ariel, soon discovering that the town has a law against dancing. Frustrated by this injustice, Ren is determined to change Bomont for the better. 

With the support of Ariel and a quirky country boy named Willard, Ren speaks out for what is right. Composed of skillful dance numbers, beautiful harmonies, and a captivating plot, "Footloose" is a wonderful musical with a story audiences will carry with them long after the curtains close.

Ben Diamond (Ren McCormack) impressed the audience with his superb dance moves and strong voice. Also having stunning vocals, Emily Gudmestad (Ariel Moore) did a great job portraying the rebellious, yet caring teenager. It was interesting to watch the relationship develop between Ren and Ariel, especially during “Almost Paradise,” a number that showcased their gorgeous harmonies.

Fergus Inder (Reverend Shaw Moore) stood out with his outstanding performance. Wowing the crowd with his flawless vocals, “I Confess” was a passionate number that gave the audience insight into his character. Caroline Kidwell (Vi Moore) has a beautiful voice, and her relationship with the Reverend and Ariel was very believable.

Lauren Hill shone as Rusty, amazing the audience with her powerful voice during “Let’s Hear it for the Boy.” Also notable was Aaron Argyres, playing the quirky, lovable character of Willard Hewitt. He provided many comical moments, especially during the song, “Mama Says.”

The technical aspects were exceptional, especially the lighting and sound effects, adding to the lively mood of the show. The costumes stood out and distinguished the time period. The stage crew handled the production excellently, smoothly making the scene transitions.

Each member of the cast brought energy to the performance. Although at times diction could have been slightly improved, the cast quickly overshadowed it with energy and impressive dance numbers. The song that was especially remarkable was “Somebody’s Eyes.” The haunting harmonies gave the audience chills.

Clayton High School succeeded in performing this heartwarming show.  Its production of Footloose makes the audience want to “cut loose” and dance along to the unforgettable tunes!

Olivia Ellis is a student at . She wrote this review for The Cappies.