The UK tour of Dirty Dancing is a stage version of the 1987 film classic written by Eleanor Bergstein. The big screen favourite starred Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in the lead roles of Baby and Johnny, in the film which was famously spawned as a low budget movie, but has gone on to earn over $214 million at the box office.
Furthermore, it was the first film to sell more than a million copies on home video and the soundtrack has generated two multi-platinum albums and multiple singles, including "(I've Had) The Time of My Life", which won both the Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Original Song, and a Grammy Award for best duet.
Phew!
In 1963, Frances "Baby" Houseman (Katie Eccles, 42nd Street), a sweet daddy's girl, goes with her family to a resort in upstate New York's Catskill Mountains. Baby has grown up in privileged surroundings and all expect her to go on to college, join the Peace Corps and save the world before marrying a doctor, just like her father. Unexpectedly, she becomes infatuated with the camp's dance instructor, Johnny Castle (Robert Colvin, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoatcx), a man whose background is vastly different from her own.
Baby lies to her father to get money to pay for an illegal abortion for Johnny's dance partner. She then fills in as Johnny's dance partner and it is as he is teaching her the dance routine that they fall in love. It all comes apart when Johnny's friend falls seriously ill after her abortion and Baby gets her father, who saves the girl's life. He then learns what Baby has been up to, who with and worse - that he funded the illegal abortion. He bans his daughter from any further association with "those people".
Her life is about to change forever as she is thrown in at the deep end as Johnny’s leading lady both on-stage and off, two fiercely independent young spirits from different worlds come together in what will be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives.
Previously, I'd have said I was one of the only people in the theatre who hadn't seen the film - however Christmas happened and my wife sat me down to 'rectify my misdemeanours'. Whilst I definitely watched it, if I'm honest, I knew some of the songs and I was aware there were watermelons involved and a lift at the end...but that's about it!
The production takes you through all the highs and lows of the story with a cast who are about as talented and suited to their roles as you can get. Katie Eccles shone as Baby, retaining the signature look and style that Jennifer Grey created in the film version. Her dancing skill is admirable and her take on the character is - in my opinion - perfect.
Colvin understudies the role of Johnny and took the place of an injured Lewis Griffiths. He had an unimaginable job matching up to Patrick Swayze's portrayal of Johnny - however he took the role and put his own stamp on it with a subtle nod to the original lading man.
Both excelled and were delivered an overdue standing ovation at the end after *that* song. Their ability to take two of the most iconic characters in movie history and replicating them so beautifully on stage with a cast of their equally talented peers was mesmerising.
Dirty Dancing is one in a long series of shows where the characters are almost more well known than the storyline of the piece. There's a knack to being able to put your own stamp on a role that's so undeniably associated with an individual - and it's refreshing to see that this didn't fall into the trap of a tribute show to the original film.
The only real criticism I have is that, at times, scenes can feel rushed and the soundtrack was cut short. I suppose it's symptomatic of bringing a movie with so many stand-out moments to the stage and needing to get them all in. However, unlike shows such as Grease and Hairspray, which both saw the Broadway musical adapted for the screen, this production is clearly the movie on stage. On the whole that isn't problematic and some gorgeous scenery and skilful choreographing keeps the flow going nicely.
All in all, a solid production that encapsulates both the magic and the character of the original film - definitely a show to get your tickets for!
Dirty Dancing runs at Birmingham's New Alexandra Theatre until Saturday 3rd June 2017.
