'Dirty Dancing' has come round again. Based on the 1980's film of the same name, this show is a guaranteed bums-on-seatser, especially when things are kept very much in line with the film. This will now be the second time I have seen this musical produced by Karl Sydow (in association wit Lionsgate and Magic Hour), and having found my comments on the show the last time round at Manchester's Palace Theatre, I need do no more than simply copy one of those paragraphs in its entirety here, as this part of the show has not changed at all...
"Compared with previous versions of this show that this reviewer has seen, this is a bare-bones version of the show. The set - one of the most minimalist and unsuccessful sets I've ever seen for a Number 1 tour - doesn't inspire or indeed work. The scene changes are so swift (too quick actually), that the sets (and cast) intermingle with each other and we don't know which performer is in which location: indeed, unless you have seen the film or are very familiar with the story, you wouldn't have a clue what some of the locations were meant to be in the first place."
Where the film is a Romantic Drama (with a little comedy to ensure it doesn't get too heavy); this stage Musical is a Romantic Comedy. The main storyline, which is actually very serious and heart-wrenching, seemed to have been given less importance, placing emphasis on the comedic elements of cameo characters, as well making Baby's dance lessons into a whole physical comedy act with a life of its own! In fact, had I not already have seen the film several times and various versions of the stage Musical, I would have had difficulty keeping up with the story in this show.
And whilst I am still being somewhat negative about this show, I need to mention the volume levels. Why there is this current trend in musical theatre productions to bung the volume onto max and pierce the audience's eardrums every night I shall never know. Louder does not equal better! Sitting with earplugs in and still having to shield my ears because of the bass reverb is not my idea of entertainment. Please, a personal plea to all sound engineers, turn the volume down!!
...and now to the good bits! Of which, I must stress there were many. The two main leads (Kira Malou as Baby and Michael O'Reilly as Johnny) smouldered together, creating just the right amount of physical and sexual chemistry, whilst a strong ensemble including a plaintive Penny (Georgia Aspinall), irritating Jake (Jack Loy), and aging sex-symbol crooner Tito (Colin Charles), all helped to create the correct milieu by putting in sterling performances. The singing was of a very high standard throughout, but of course, it is the dancing - well, specifically the dirty dancing - that everyone comes to see this show for. Austin Wilks's choreography is superb. All the cha-cha-chas, merengues, and other ballroom classics with which the Kellerman's establishment is famed were all superb; whilst in the back room, the young staff showed us just exactly what they were made of with their more raunchy and sexy gyrations away from the owner's gaze. These were simply breathtaking and executed with aplomb. And of course, the final sequence did not disappoint either. A long, fully choreographed 'Time Of My Life' sequence with THAT iconic lift taking pride of place. Simply wonderful.
A high-spirited, extremely slick, and big dance spectacular which will not disappoint the fans.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 6.6.23
on - 6.6.23
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