Footloose
at Laguna Hills

Reviewed on April 28, 2016

Cassidy McCleary
San Clemente
Submitted for publication to OC Register

Laguna Hills dances into the heart with ‘Footloose'

"Let's hear it for the boys" and girls of Laguna Hills high school's "Footloose", who bring to life the classic tale of love and dance in a small country town.

When Ren, a lively city boy, comes with his mother to Bomont, Texas, he shakes up the status quo and breathes life into a suffering city weighed down by the tragedy of the past.

Eli Buckels takes the stage as Ren, the defiant teenager facing his grief after his father leaves him and his mother. His deadpan delivery and sardonic expressions accent the humor of his sarcastic rebellion against authority and the statute against dancing. His expert command of silence and stillness expose his vulnerability when softening the heart of the strict reverend of the town.

As Reverend Shaw Moore, Ryan Batten's commanding stance and strong vocals displaying his strength, contrast with the heartfelt delivery of his memories on "Any Given Sunday" to create a diverse character whose growth reinvigorates a town grieving for their lost hope for the future.

Dani Grace embodies the rebellious Ariel, who starts the show with a brash attitude and seductive dance moves to hide her grief and anger with her stone-cold father, Reverend Moore. However, as she allows Ren to see her more clearly, she lets go of her outer shell and relaxes into herself. Her relationship with Ren culminates in a heart-stirring duet, "Almost Paradise", where Buckel's falsetto combines beautifully with Grace's melodic belt to show their resolution as a couple.

Lightening the mood is Ariel's group of BFF's. Played by Sabrina Astle, Rusty's quirky, wide-eyed innocence as she sings to her crush Willard in "Let's Hear it For the Boy" brighten the stage, and, as Wendy Jo, Linsey Schreck's well timed bites of licorice and lamentations about her love life show expert comedic timing.

The ensemble supports the entire production with tight harmonies and high energy, seen in the song "Somebody's Eyes", as the teens lament the tight-knit communities' constant watch.

The show shines due to the tremendous work of the hair and makeup crew. They create an accurate picture of the eighties and their realistic application of black eyes to actors after stage fights helps to promote the realism of the story.

Laguna Hill's high-energy production proves that "Dancing is Not a Crime" because sometimes you just have to "Cut Footloose".

Emerson Taylor
SOCSA Dana Hills
Submitted for publication to OC Register

Laguna Hills "cuts loose" with 'Footloose'

From the first beat of the drums, the ensemble of Laguna Hills's 'Footloose' offers exploding energy that intensifies throughout the production as the small town of Bomont learns to dance again. When Ren McCormack moves to Bomont, he sees the crippling grief reverberating through the town after four high school students died in a car crash and helps them overcome it by overturning laws prohibiting dancing.

Eli Buckels embraces a deadpan, sarcastic humor as Ren that acts as a defense mechanism for his character after his father walks out. Buckels manages to incorporate the energy of movement into all interactions, tapping his foot when nervous and bouncing while standing; however, in the emotional encounter with Reverend Shaw Moore (Ryan Batten), Buckels embraces a stillness that allows him to experience an honest vulnerability.

Batten walks with maturity as Reverend Moore, establishing himself as patriarch through his intimidating gestures and stern voice. Yet, in the "On Any Sunday" reprise he takes off the mask and allows himself to fully experience his grief-- with teary eyes he uses his vocal strength to propel his performance forward. Complementing Batten is Natalie Teuton as Vi Moore who, with a reassuring hand and sharp look, establishes her role as the silent caregiver.

Dani Grace struts across the stage as Ariel, swinging her hips and running her hands through her curls as she rebels against her father's authority. Costumes by Camryn Turner and Cayley Busenkell highlight this rebellion by incorporating the color red, including Ariel's infamous red cowboy boots, into each of her costumes.

Ariel's innate sass is juxtaposed by Rusty's (Sabrina Astle) wide-eyed innocence, nervously wringing her hands while flirting and bouncing while easily belting out "Let's Hear it for the Boy".

The BFFs take the stage as a sassy but sweet ensemble with each performer developing their character's individual personality, notably Wendy Jo's (Linsey Schreck) agape mouth and signature snort, showcased in the high energy "Holding out for a Hero".

Lighting by Danielle Kelly, Vee Woldridge, and Lauren Cacace begins in hues of purple and white that then explode to feature the entire color spectrum to work with the plot to show the town slowly working through its grief to fully experience life again.

With the combined works of the cast and crew, Laguna Hills High School breaks free and truly "cuts loose" in Footloose.

Carlie McCleary
San Clemente
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

‘Footloose' at Laguna will knock your socks off

Laguna Hills High School has officially crossed the town line into Bomont, Texas. In this fantastic production of Footloose, Ren McCormack only wants to dance. After he finds out dancing is forbidden in his new hometown of Bomont, Ren sets out to liberate his fellow peers from the constricting laws that prohibit dancing from within city limits- only to find love and loss along his path.

Eli Buckels successfully embodies Ren McCormack, the main protagonist of the story. By using a deadpan look and apathetic slouch, Buckels effectively portrays his character's disrespect for authority whenever adults approach. However, in the song, "I'm free/Heaven Help Me" Buckels' eyes ignite with fervor and his slouch straightens as he begins to fight for the right to dance.

Posing the main opposition for Ren, Ryan Batten appears as Reverend Shaw Moore. In his song "On Any Sunday" Batten's raw and cutting vibrato express his character's inner conflict to finally let his son's death go. His ability to quickly transition from this raw, emotional state to an intense, ardent preacher helps Batten juxtapose the two sides of his character more prominently.

The daughter of the reverend, Dani Grace appears as thrill junkie and dare devil Ariel Moore. In her song "Holding out for a Hero," Grace proves she can sing, act and dance. Particularly in her dancing, she hits each beat powerfully to express Ariel's angst toward the town's new laws. As the story goes on, Grace sheds her "bad girl" image to reveal a mourning heart for her deceased brother in "Almost Paradise." By gradually using softer movements and speaking more quietly than she did earlier, Grace showcases Ariel's growing vulnerability that becomes more prominent the longer she stays with Ren.

Stage management helped the show move at an extremely fast pace throughout both act one and act two. With no mistakes in light or deck crew pacing, Stage managers Danielle Kelly, Alex Belfield, and Olivia Huncovsky call their cues at the perfect moment, allowing the show run smoothly and without any blemishes.

Empowering and entertaining, Laguna Hills High School cuts loose for an outstanding production of Footloose.