This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Leeds chapter.
The Riley Smith Hall was turned into a 70s boogie wonderland earlier in March when LUU Stage Musicals society delivered the show ‘Disco Inferno’.
The comedy dance musical is set to a score of hits from the era of glitter, flares and platform shoes. Based on the story of Faustus, it introduces the audience to Jack, an average bar man in green cords and a checked shirt, who collects the glasses in the club. In true stage musical style, he dreams of achieving fame. In walks Lucretia, the devil incarnate, who seduces him into sacrificing his soul in return for living his dream of stardom. However, his world falls apart when his success as a musical sex symbol severs his relationship with his friends and leaves him praying go back in time.
In all honesty, I arrived with horrific memories of school musicals and an overflowing skepticism at how students could put on an effective stage show on top of their degrees. However, these were instantly quashed as soon as the first number hit the stage in a sea of colour and 70s classics. I was hooked into the storyline straight away, amused by how the songs all linked together throughout the plot and awestruck at the amount of energy it was possible to have after a day of lectures and seminars. Every character put 100% into simultaneously singing in tuneful harmony and expelling even more impressive talent in the dances. I found myself tapping my feet and, secretly, mouthing the words to the songs that I knew.
To add to this, I felt myself on the brink tears during Emma Cook’s (Jane) heart-wrenching performance of ‘I Will Survive’, making her my favourite character by far. She complemented the adaptability of her on-stage boyfriend Josh Hughes (Jack) as he showcased his ability to perform dance numbers as well as remorseful ballads.
The acting by the other main characters was also engaging and realistic. Luci Turner (Lucretia), in particular, balanced sophistication with sexuality as the soul-hungry devil’s assistant. She managed to sing a flawless performance of ‘Hot Stuff’ whilst accompanied by stage full of dancing women in black lingerie, creating a spectacularly dramatic scene that oozed with class.
Overall, this was a well-produced show where attention to detail on everything from costumes to high notes was evident. Not a single dance routine seemed to be repeated and no members of the cast or chorus lagged behind in talent. The only downfall I feel the production had was the length. Whilst the 3 hours were very enjoyable, the script could have been cut down to a more streamlined storyline where all parts of the plot were relevant. Saying that, I didn’t get bored once and enjoyed stepping into a completely different decade. It was a truly a night to remember and all those that took part should be immensely proud of themselves. I definitely won’t be avoiding the stalls selling tickets in the union foyer ever again.