The idea of a film starring the latest chart toppers has taken a back seat in recent years, but back in the 60s everyone from Elvis and The Beatles downwards was doing it – including Blighty’s very own Elvis wannabe, Cliff Richard.

His Summer Holiday followed the feel-good, song-and-dance formula of his previous The Young Ones and became the second most popular film of 1963.

One surprise is that it took so long for a stage version.

Despite the passage of over half a century, not much has been updated. In the era of mass-market flights to Greece, the idea of four mechanics driving a London Transport double-decker to Athens for a cheap break might seem hopelessly old-fashioned, not to say improbable, but this merely adds period charm.
Ray Quinn was the star of the show
Ray Quinn was the star of the show

Really, this musical is an excuse to cram together some of Cliff’s greatest hits in a lighthearted Five-Go-To… caper, the sort where singing and dancing will get you out of bother with the gendarmes (Michael Palin, eat your heart out).

The plot doesn’t bear too close inspection, with holes aplenty and some pretty flimsy pretexts for songs (teaching a stranded, tearful non-English-speaking bride to sing "Living Doll" phonetically was squirm-inducing).

(L-R) Alice Baker, Laura Marie Benson and Gabby Antrobus

But if ever a musical demands suspension of disbelief, Summer Holiday is it: it’s a snapshot of a bygone age, and the audience lapped it up.

So, allowing for all of the above, how did this production do?

First, the downside: the set was a disappointment. Other than the bus, which rotated and occasionally issued plumes of steam, the stage was bare, with no backshots of scenery, waves or police cars and not much in the way of sound effects to help signpost the action or location.

A few more “Lumme, lads, we’re in bloomin’ Paris” might have helped, but a rethink is definitely needed here.

That said, everything else worked a treat: the costumes were good (with the strap-on goat outfits particularly fun), the superb troupe of dancers danced their socks off and the singers sang their hearts out.

Ray Quinn (L) and Billy Roberts (R)
Ray Quinn (L) and Billy Roberts (R)

You couldn’t fault them for their energy, enthusiasm and commitment – full marks all round. Of the leading roles, Ray Quinn (formerly of Brookside and X Factor) as the main man Don did a very passable Cliff Richard, while Sophie Matthew as his love interest Barbara/Bobbie channelled Kylie Minogue to great success.

And Bobby Crush (as Barbara’s dad Jerry) deserves a special mention as a John Goodmanesque figure in a wonderful succession of pantomime outfits.

In fact, this happy, frothy concoction was really a pantomime for the summer, well worth catching if you’re a Cliff fan.

If you liked the film, you will like this.