Review: Dreamboats and Miniskirts at Chesterfield’s Winding Wheel

The first statement was a fabrication of the truth because the nationwide tour of new musical Dreamboats and Miniskirts had launched in Dartford the previous week.

As for the latter, well, it took a bit of time for the fans at the Winding Wheel to warm up last night (Monday), not helped by a 15-minute delay while technical arrangements were being finalised.

It’s a groovy kind of show which moves the original smash-hit Dreamboats and Miniskirts on to the Sixties, complete with pin-up pop stars and fabulous fashions of the era.

If you haven’t seen the first show, don’t worry as the storyline is simple enough to follow.

Elizabeth Carter and Alex Beaumont head the cast as teenagers in love Laura and Bobby whose hopes of pop stardom as a duo are scuppered by a flop appearance on television. She goes on to find overnight stardom, his bid for fame as singer in a band is a longer haul.

The storyline is secondary to the 40-plus fabulous Sixties hits which make the show.

There’s a brilliant take-off of The Beatles doing Twist and Shout - with a wobbly headed Paul McCartney lookalike, a couple of well-performed Roy Orbison songs complete with dazzling light show and a great example of unaccompanied harmony in You Really Got A Hold On Me, the latter performed by the 15-strong ensemble.

The cast of young singers and musicians do a magnificent job in recreating the sights and sounds of the Swinging Sixties.

For a fab night out, check out Dreamboats and Miniskirts at the Winding Wheel until Saturday, January 17.

GAY BOLTON