DIRTY DANCING.
Lonon
DIRTY DANCING
by Eleanor Bergstein
Aldwych Theatre
Mon-Thu 7.45pm Fri 5.15pm & 8.30pm Sat 3pm & 7.45pm
Runs 2hr 40min One Interval
TICKETS: 0870 400 0845
www.dirtydancingonstage.com
Review: Geoff Ambler 22 May 2007
A classic movie, recreated on stage with added electricity and mild cheese.
Dirty Dancing opened last October with massive presales and continues one of the West End’s hottest tickets. Following the hit 80’s movie almost religiously, it charts the coming-of-age of Frances “Baby” Houseman and her relationship with Johnny, dancer and rebel with a heart, and a maturing relationship with her parents and sister. Set during the family’s summer vacation at an American country resort in the early 60’s, it also brings a pleasing view of simpler times to a period of American upheaval.
Georgina Rich’s “Baby” stands out from the opening. She finds love, learns to dance and adeptly draws the audience in to a show which is essentially “chick” theatre, complete with cheese, corn and a whole load of easy-going fun.
Josef Brown’s Johnny receives cheers from the excitable, largely female, audience throughout, particularly when exposing his upper torso. An extraordinary dancer, Brown portrays a more soulful James Dean character within the film’s limiting script; though he does get one of the most memorable film lines, delivered to a theatre full of screams.
The ensemble dancers always impress and Nadia Coote’s Penny Johnson, whose legs start somewhere off-west end, is magnificent, lithe and graceful. A lot of the music is played from recordings of the period, but when Shonagh Daly and Ben Mingay get the opportunity to belt out “The Time of My Life” they raise energy levels as well as the theatre roof. Emma Wood’s show-opener “This Magic Moment” sets the exceptional standard the Dirty Dancing performance numbers achieve.
Those familiar with the film will not be disappointed with this show’s adherence to it. Every key scene is repeated almost, if not actually, in word and action; even the choreography feels familiar. Memorable quotes (“No one puts Baby in the corner”) are greeted with whooping and hollering, adding to this extremely successful lowest common denominator theatre.
The last ten minutes recreates the movie’s memorable end, pre-known by everyone. How they get there isn’t too important. The finale, including “the lift”, has an energy easily permeating to the audience, lifting the feel-good effect even in the most cynical theatre goer.
Frances “Baby” Houseman: Georgina Rich
Johnny Castle: Josef Brown
Dr Jake Houseman: David Rintoul
Vivian Pressman: Rae Baker
Mr Schumacher: Billy Boyle
Lisa Houseman: Isabella Calthorpe
Penny Johnson: Nadia Coote
Neil Kellerman: Richard Dempsey
Moe Pressman: Jason Griffiths
Robbie Gould: Richard Lawrence
Tito Suarez: Richard Lloyd King
Billy Kostecki: Ben Mingay
Marjorie Houseman: Helen Grace
Stan: Brian Saccente
Mrs Schumacher: Ursula Smith
Max Kellerman: Nigel Williams
Elizabeth/Featured Ensemble: Shonagh Daly
Jordan/Featured Ensemble: Chris Holland
Ensemble: Lucy Banfield
Ensemble/Ballroom Supervisor: Ian Banham
Ensemble/Dance Captain: Sarah Bowden
Ensemble: Dan Burton
Swing: Arielle Campbell
Ensemble: David Erik
Ensemble: Shimi Goodman
Ensemble: Helen Harper
Swing: Victoria Hinde
Ensemble: Paul Lawrence Kitson
Tito Standby: Tee Jaye
Swing/Assistant Dance Captain: Richard Leeson
Swing: Brad Madison
Ensemble: Chris Andrew Mellon
Swing: Tom Mellor
Ensemble: Will Peaco
Ensemble: Tanya Perera
Swing: Eve Prideaux
Ensemble: Emma Woods
Ensemble: Yaa
Director: James Powell
Designer: Stephen Brimson Lewis
Lighting: Tim Mitchell
Musical Director: Chris Newton
Choreographer: Kate Champion
Costume: Jennifer Irwin
2007-05-28 00:27:38