Sex Docks and Rock ‘n’ roll at Leeds City Varieties, reviewed by Victoria Betton (with the help of a handy eight year old)…
A riotous mix of high comedy and hip twitching songs, Boff Whalley’s “Sex and Docks and Rock ‘n’ Roll”, leaps off the stage like the bastard love child of the Royle Family and Grease. Performed by an astonishing (in the words of my perceptive eight year old) cast of actor-musicians brought together by Red Ladder theatre company, it plays all week at the City Varieties.
Set in Liverpool in 1960 its engaging confluence of sex (Lady Chatterley’s Lover), docks (a union strike) and rock ‘n’ roll (Gene Vincent toured England in that year) had our Tuesday night audience rolling and very nearly rocking in the aisles. Dad is busy pontificating about the Marxist revolution from the comfort of his armchair; mum is ditching the kitchen for liberation, and son Jack is frantically attempting to get a band together to perform the gig of his life on Saturday night.
Packed full of songs, it is fun, witty and larger than life, with enough of a dollop of slapstick to keep my children entertained. Here are the incisive comments of an eight year old:
‘I was ecstatic … a bit funny … fond of it … very exciting … giggly … funny … just right … astonished …’
Not a bad reaction for a tired boy on a school night.
The show captures changing social times through an affectionate portrait of a loving family. Think of it as a hefty charge of politics all wrapped up in a good old musical knees-up that will warm your heart.
Sex, Docks and Rock ‘n’ roll is on at the City Varieties until Saturday, Jan 21 to 26, City Varieties, Swan Street, Leeds, 8pm and 2pm £13.50, £10. 0113 2430808, www.cityvarieties.co.uk