London theater critics have given mixed reviews to the second West End revival of Saturday Night Fever, based on the 1977 film. The musical had its stage premiere in 1998 at the London Palladium and opened on Broadway in 1999, returning to the West End in 2004. The current creative team includes Robert Stigwood and Bill Oakes (book), Bee Gees (music, lyrics), Bill Kenwright (direction), Bill Deamer (choreography), Gary McCann (production design), Nick Richings (lights), and Dan Samson (sound). The show is booking at the Peacock Theatre through March 26.
The cast includes Richard Winsor (Tony), Olivia Fines (Stephanie), Jasmin Colangelo (Annette), Kevin O’Dwyer (Bobby C), Faizal Jaye (Monty), James Brice (Gus), Paul French (Double J), Philip Aiden (Frank Sr.), Melody Jones (Flo), Marios Nicolaides (Frank Jr.), and Lydia Bradd (Linda), with Jake Byrom, James Cohen, Michael Cortez, Tosca Fischer, Helen Gulston James Hudson, Ashley Luke Lloyd, Luca Rapisarda, Oliver Thomson, James Wilkinson-Jones, and Celeste Zollino.
The Guardian (Miriam Gillinson): All the iconic elements from the 1977 film are in place in Bill Kenwright’s big-hearted production, as well as a few extras. … The only thing missing is a bit more grit and fiery passion in a show that’ll get you dancing, but never hits fever pitch. … It all feels just a bit too tidy: dancing to admire rather than really lose yourself in. It’s the newly devised dance numbers … that really impress. When Manero and Mangano practise together in the studio, there’s a flair to their dancing that feels liberating. And it’s only in Manero’s final scene, when Winsor is able to truly express himself with some yearning contemporary dance, that this Fever begins to burn. 3 out of 5 stars.
London Theatre (Mirianka Swain): It’s a blast from the past — though one with surprising emotional heft alongside its retro pleasures. If your vague memory of the 1977 movie … is of colourful dance floors and finger points, well, you’ll certainly find those here, but also a sincere story about working-class kids with few prospects longing for escape. … Bill Kenwright’s slick staging loses some of the grit of the film, and the dance numbers tend to be more presentational and synchronised rather than sweaty, organic clubbing, but, to its credit, the show sticks with the story’s dark subject matter. … Funky and heartfelt entertainment. 4 out of 5 stars.
London Theatre 1 (Chris Omaweng): Rather refreshingly for what is essentially a jukebox musical … the plotline is substantial. It explores a number of socioeconomic issues in New York in the 1970s — and some of the themes still resonate today. … For all the narrative points in the show, it seemed to me that much of the audience had come to experience the song and dance. … Winsor’s dancing is so polished and precise … that the ruggedness of the central character is in danger of being softened. … There’s an engaging feelgood factor to this show, with examples of overcoming adversity and a continuing desire to find a cathartic release through dancing. Worth seeing. 4 out of 5 stars.
The Standard (Nick Curtis): If it’s escapist fun you’re after, this high-energy, unchallenging musical adaptation of the 1977 disco movie that made John Travolta a star is just the thing. … Richard Windsor is a powerhouse of hip-thrusting, hand-jiving motion, and he’s matched by a graceful Olivia Fines as his haughty partner. … The acting is pretty perfunctory throughout, but that scarcely matters while the music and footwork power the show forward. It all falls apart a bit towards the end, with … an unintentionally hilarious nightmare sequence. Then Windsor … and Fines lead the well-drilled ensemble in a big-finish finale that puts it right. A disco inferno, right enough. 3 out of 5 stars.
WhatsOnStage (Daniella Harrison): What are the first things that come to your mind when you think of Saturday Night Fever? … All those things are present in this Bill Kenwright production … but unfortunately, there’s quite a lot missing for this show to really light up the dance floor. … As a musical, Saturday Night Fever is confused. It is unsure whether it wants its characters to sing the fantastic disco tunes or just be soundtracked by them, so has a mixture. … It also doesn’t know if it wants to lean into the hard-hitting plot or be something fun. … But don’t worry, there’s an extended disco megamix at the end to perk up your spirits and make you forget everything before it. 2 out of 5 stars.