Giles Woodforde watches an infectiously enthusiastic performance of a classic musical

It’s not every Reverend who gets the chance to say: “I now pronounce you – men and wives”. But the preacher in the musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers does just that as he performs a single batch of shotgun weddings, following a great many shenanigans along the route to the altar.

Set in 1850s rural Oregon, Seven Brides was first a rumbustious 1954 film starring Howard Keel and Jane Powell.

The stage version followed in the 1980s. Budgetary constraints hampered the film, which was shot in a studio against painted backcloths, and not outdoors on location. There’s a slightly constrained feeling to the current stage revival too, with its two-dimensional, stylised trees, and oddly dim lighting in the outdoor scenes. But this matters little, for this is really a song and — above all — dance show: the darker side of the storyline, which sees six young ladies kidnapped and carted off to the country-side, is quickly resolved.

Patti Colombo’s choreography is danced with great zest, and pins you to your seat. The footwork is based on classical ballet, with a profusion of somersaults and cartwheels added on top. Girls are tossed from guy to guy with seemingly fear-less abandon — dance rehear-sals must have been fascinating, and not a little scary, to watch.

“Bless your beautiful hide, you’re the girl for me,” sings Adam Pontipee as he carts his bride Milly off to his humble woodland home. No doubt he hopes that this keynote number from Gene De Paul’s score will be sufficient to beguile her, for he forgets to mention that the house is already filled to overflowing with his six unkempt, testosterone-fuelled brothers. With lyrics by Johnny Mercer, other major numbers include Wonderful Wonderful Day, Goin’ Courtin’, and Love Never Goes Away.

Goin’ Courtin’, in which Milly attempts to teach her brothers-in-law some social graces, and the big company numbers Social Dance and Wedding Dance come off particularly well in this production.

Helena Blackman sings firmly, and adds real depth to the character of Milly. As Adam, Sam (EastEnders) Attwater seemed to find some of his numbers a bit of a challenge on press night, but there’s plenty of pzzazz in his acting. Backed by a large, infectiously enthusiastic company, they bring this old warhorse of a musical joyfully back to life.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
New Theatre, Oxford
Until Saturday
Tickets: 0844 871 3020 atgtickets.com/oxford