As the show approaches faster and faster, and our countdown here at The Fordian seems to wind down, we decided to return to our ‘roots’ of what the countdown is all about, and pose the question “What is ‘Footloose’ about?” to students and staff after school Wednesday. We took to the streets all around the school (first-floor hallways),and even braved the cold outside when it was really, really, windy out, all in the name of finding the truth.
We at The Fordian thus make the final home stretch of this extensive countdown that has not only been a huge undertaking for our staff, but also a huge boost in viewing statistics of thefordian.com. Before we started we averaged about 50-100 views a day, and now we are averaging over 200! Numbers aside though, we are dedicated to authentic journalism and try not to get too consumed with readership and views (though don’t hesitate to keep spreading the word about thefordian.com), and for this feature we set aside those underlying agendas to get back to basics; of what the musicale is actually about!
A very brief, simple synopsis is that ‘Footloose’ revolves around a small town where dancing has been banned, and the experience of the main character “Ren” as he tries to be a good-looking rebel who plays by his own rules, while simultaneously bustin’ stellar dance moves. We quoted that from a previous article from this newspaper with the author’s permission. Hopefully this will clear somethings up and get out the word and truth concerning ‘Footloose’.
But more interestingly, here’s what students, staff, and other Havertown Residents who live in close proximity to the High school think the musical is about and what comes to mind when they think of ‘Footloose’. Again, these are actual responses. Here’s what they had to say:
Question: What is ‘Footloose’ about?
- “Footloose is about a guy who’s a dancer, who, um, likes to dance, but he’s not allowed.”
- “It’s based off that one movie.”
- “I think it’s about cuttin’ loose.”
- “The life and times of Kevin Bacon.”
- “Feet.”
- “The freedom of human nature…and free will.”
- “A one-legged war veteran.”
- “Socio-economics in the 1890’s.”
- “‘Floose’ feet.” (meant to be a pun)
- “Dancing when no one’s watching.”
- “Dancing …(long pause)…feet.”
- “Uhhh, I know there’s a movie.”
- “I know there’s a steamy kissing scene.”
- “You’re trying to tie your shoes and then you run down the hallway and then you trip.”
- “I think it’s about rules that restrict singing and dancing.”
- “It’s about a town where they can’t dance because there was a tragedy before.”
- “We’re in the play, so…”
- “Tap Dancing? Am I right?” (Fordian staff responded that we did not know and were trying to get what the students thought it was)
- “Boy meets town. Town meets boy. Boy tries to change town.”
- “It’s about how a town outlined (not outlawed) dancing.”
- “Feet.” (Not the same person as quoted above)
- “Some type of romance involving…maybe two people dancing…(laughter)…and they like to dance?”
- “So, well, what you want a full on synopsis or something? Are you recording this? I’m going to get food. All of the directors talk to each other…stop interrupting me, ok, alright, I’m leaving.”
- “Well, about ‘Footloose’? This person tries to bring about an uprising to bring dancing back into the community!”
- “Feet? Yes, no, well it’s a town where there’s this religious cult and then Kevin Bacon comes in because he’s super hot. “
- “Ummm, a movie, well I guess a play, about two kids trying to legalize dancing in their town.”
- “Did you call me Cleo?”
- “No clue…don’t know…maybe a song?”
- (puts hand in Fordian staff’s face) “No paparazzi please and thank you.”
- “A boy searching for his dreams and he finds himself along the way.”
- “Foot-binding? This is anonymous right?”
- “Somebody died dancing so they banned it.”
- “Getting your feet all loosey-goosey.”
- “Kids dancing for fun!”
- “This guy moves to a new town where dancing is illegal and he thinks it’s preposterous.”
- “It’s about a dancing queen. You I mean…on that tambourine…only seventeen.”
- “We’re not friends Colin, you can quote me on that.”
- “Townspeople don’t like to dance and then this guy comes and says ‘it’s ok guys.”
- “A love story where two people dance.”
- “I have to go, so I’m not really sure.”
- “This guy moves to Bomont with his Mom because his Dad ran away.”
- “I just know they dance, there’s a lot of dancing”
