You all know the story. It’s the summer of 1963 and Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman is on summer holidays with her sister and conservative parents in New York’s Catskill Mountains. Tiring of the resort’s cheesy activities, Baby (why didn’t my parents call me Baby? How can you not be a sexy dance prodigy with that name?!) stumbles across a staff party where she meets wrong-side-of-the-tracks dance instructor Johnny Castle. The rest is all watermelons, lifts, dancing and people in corners.
Watching Dirty Dancing onstage reminded me why I don’t dance in nightclubs: the simple fact being that I can’t. While most of us attempting to dance will scull as many alcoholic drinks as possible and shuffle around awkwardly, all thumbs and toes, the athletic, strong and sexy dancers in Dirty Dancing confidently writhe around the stage to a sultry 1960s soundtrack, leaving you captivated and, uh, slightly jealous.
Let’s be honest – Kurt Phelan, who plays Castle (AKA Patrick Swayze in the movie), had big shoes to fill, especially in a Lyric Theatre filled with swooning women all gawking for attention. However, given the fact I spent most of the show staring at his toned abs, barely listening to the witty and sharp dialogue, it’s safe to say those shoes have been filled. Credit also must go to Kirby Burgess (Baby), whose wholesome and typical pumpkin-pie American values fly out the window once she gets a taste of the sexiness oozing from Castle and the dancing underworld.
Fans of the movie will be happy to hear this stage adaptation, by Eleanor Bergstein, features plenty of verbatim dialogue and scenes from the film. The cast as a whole is outstanding, and the choreography melds fabulously with the at times laugh-out-loud dialogue, making for a really entertaining performance.
Dirty Dancing is definitely a must-see – however, it’s probably not a show to take your mother to, as the catchy, sexy and old-school music really does make you feel like gyrating in a bra and a pair of cut-off denim shorts with the person sitting next to you. I managed to refrain.
5/5 stars
Dirty Dancing is now playing at the Sydney Lyric Theatre.
