Review: Summer Holiday,

Belvidere School, Shrewsbury

The cast of Summer Holiday

More years ago than I care to remember, I queued with my parents outside the cinema in Whitchurch to watch the film Summer Holiday.

I thought it was well worth what seemed a long wait as I thoroughly enjoyed the colour, dance and songs of the film, which starred Sir Cliff Richard.

And I very much enjoyed a performance of Summer Holiday by Shrewsbury Amateur Operatic Society.

Sure enough there were the usual hiccups of an opening night. There seemed to be a couple of problems with the sound system and the performers also had to contend with a fairly small stage at Belvidere School.

But this didn’t detract from a fun time which certainly helps lift the current gloom of the recession, fears over swine flu and the scandal of MPs’ expenses.

It is a production full of energy and many in the audience had their feet tapping to songs which remain popular today such as the title number, Bachelor Boy, Dancing Shoes, Move It, Living Doll, Do You Wanna Dance and The Young Ones.

Sir Cliff sent his best wishes to the society, saying: “I hope you have as much fun on stage as we did making the movie.”

And the singers and dancers did seem to have fun.

Summer Holiday is a real “feel good” story set back in the early 1960s.

In addition to great songs, there is plenty of comedy which brought many laughs to a large audience.

Summer Holiday runs until Saturday.

Dave Morris